diff --git a/include/linux/kernel.h b/include/linux/kernel.h
index e9b492b33032..77b04ed037df 100644
--- a/include/linux/kernel.h
+++ b/include/linux/kernel.h
@@ -277,6 +277,11 @@ asmlinkage int vprintk(const char *fmt, va_list args)
 asmlinkage int printk(const char * fmt, ...)
 	__attribute__ ((format (printf, 1, 2))) __cold;
 
+/*
+ * Please don't use printk_ratelimit(), because it shares ratelimiting state
+ * with all other unrelated printk_ratelimit() callsites.  Instead use
+ * printk_ratelimited() or plain old __ratelimit().
+ */
 extern int __printk_ratelimit(const char *func);
 #define printk_ratelimit() __printk_ratelimit(__func__)
 extern bool printk_timed_ratelimit(unsigned long *caller_jiffies,