diff --git a/hmp-commands.hx b/hmp-commands.hx
index baeac47a72..e763606fe5 100644
--- a/hmp-commands.hx
+++ b/hmp-commands.hx
@@ -676,7 +676,8 @@ ETEXI
 STEXI
 @item usb_add @var{devname}
 @findex usb_add
-Add the USB device @var{devname}.  For details of available devices see
+Add the USB device @var{devname}. This command is deprecated, please
+use @code{device_add} instead. For details of available devices see
 @ref{usb_devices}
 ETEXI
 
@@ -693,7 +694,8 @@ STEXI
 @findex usb_del
 Remove the USB device @var{devname} from the QEMU virtual USB
 hub. @var{devname} has the syntax @code{bus.addr}. Use the monitor
-command @code{info usb} to see the devices you can remove.
+command @code{info usb} to see the devices you can remove. This
+command is deprecated, please use @code{device_del} instead.
 ETEXI
 
     {
diff --git a/vl.c b/vl.c
index 88d24d6b12..92d1310b99 100644
--- a/vl.c
+++ b/vl.c
@@ -1436,6 +1436,9 @@ static int usb_parse(const char *cmdline)
 void hmp_usb_add(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 {
     const char *devname = qdict_get_str(qdict, "devname");
+
+    error_report("usb_add is deprecated, please use device_add instead");
+
     if (usb_device_add(devname) < 0) {
         error_report("could not add USB device '%s'", devname);
     }
@@ -1444,6 +1447,9 @@ void hmp_usb_add(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 void hmp_usb_del(Monitor *mon, const QDict *qdict)
 {
     const char *devname = qdict_get_str(qdict, "devname");
+
+    error_report("usb_del is deprecated, please use device_del instead");
+
     if (usb_device_del(devname) < 0) {
         error_report("could not delete USB device '%s'", devname);
     }