diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index cd33d38a498..593a390b91a 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 2007-08-22  Stefan Monnier  <monnier@iro.umontreal.ca>
 
+	* emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el (byte-compile-from-buffer): Display a big fat
+	warning if the file uses old style backquotes.
+
 	* emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el (byte-compile-log-file)
 	(byte-recompile-directory, byte-compile-file)
 	(byte-compile-from-buffer): Use with-current-buffer.
diff --git a/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el b/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el
index 12fab768db5..5a7f96fb988 100644
--- a/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el
+++ b/lisp/emacs-lisp/bytecomp.el
@@ -1821,6 +1821,7 @@ With argument, insert value in current buffer after the form."
 	;; new in Emacs 22.1.
 	(read-with-symbol-positions inbuffer)
 	(read-symbol-positions-list nil)
+        (old-style-backquotes nil)
 	;;	  #### This is bound in b-c-close-variables.
 	;;	  (byte-compile-warnings (if (eq byte-compile-warnings t)
 	;;				     byte-compile-warning-types
@@ -1865,7 +1866,12 @@ With argument, insert value in current buffer after the form."
 	;; Make warnings about unresolved functions
 	;; give the end of the file as their position.
 	(setq byte-compile-last-position (point-max))
-	(byte-compile-warn-about-unresolved-functions))
+	(byte-compile-warn-about-unresolved-functions)
+        ;; Warn about the use of old-style backquotes.
+        (when old-style-backquotes
+          (byte-compile-warn "!! The file uses old-style backquotes !!
+This functionality has been obsolete for more than 10 years already
+and will be removed soon.  See (elisp)Backquote in the manual.")))
       ;; Fix up the header at the front of the output
       ;; if the buffer contains multibyte characters.
       (and filename (byte-compile-fix-header filename inbuffer outbuffer))))
diff --git a/lispref/macros.texi b/lispref/macros.texi
index 6dea53ac983..b62c8b99d74 100644
--- a/lispref/macros.texi
+++ b/lispref/macros.texi
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ whitespace between the @samp{`}, @samp{,} or @samp{,@@} and the
 following expression.
 
 This syntax is still accepted, for compatibility with old Emacs
-versions, but we recommend not using it in new programs.
+versions, but support for it will soon disappear.
 
 @node Problems with Macros
 @section Common Problems Using Macros