diff --git a/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp b/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp
index dbf271131dc18eed6c4335fd54204b1e44a933b3..e3674cb40172079c51983daa0cf2729071f3bf52 100644
--- a/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp
+++ b/src/REAX/pair_reax.cpp
@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ using namespace LAMMPS_NS;
 
 PairREAX::PairREAX(LAMMPS *lmp) : Pair(lmp)
 {
+  error->warning(FLERR,"pair style reax is now deprecated "
+		 "and will soon be retired. Users "
+		 "should switch to pair_style reax/c");
   single_enable = 0;
   restartinfo = 0;
   one_coeff = 1;
diff --git a/src/REAX/pair_reax.h b/src/REAX/pair_reax.h
index 55ed4512bcf0ff53b15f4c26dd1d121fc20bc4f3..5f103e4eabd5925f5b7e3630697d79a8f226e34c 100644
--- a/src/REAX/pair_reax.h
+++ b/src/REAX/pair_reax.h
@@ -143,4 +143,8 @@ E: Invalid REAX atom type
 There is a mis-match between LAMMPS atom types and the elements
 listed in the ReaxFF force field file.
 
+W: pair style reax is now deprecated and will soon be retired. Users should switch to pair_style reax/c
+
+Self-explanatory.
+
 */