diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index cf85eb889e..c7f4c3c0f1 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -23,6 +23,13 @@ CHANGES WITH 254 in spe:
           *now* to include a native systemd unit file instead of a legacy
           System V script to retain compatibility with future systemd releases.
 
+        * Support for the SystemdOptions EFI variable is deprecated.
+          'bootctl systemd-efi-options' will emit a warning when used. It seems
+          that this feature is little-used and it is better to use alternative
+          approaches like credentials and confexts. The plan is to drop support
+          altogether at a later point, but this might be revisited based on
+          user feedback.
+
         * EnvironmentFile= now treats the line following a comment line
           trailing with escape as a non comment line. For details, see:
           https://github.com/systemd/systemd/issues/27975
diff --git a/man/bootctl.xml b/man/bootctl.xml
index 3219ae247b..a03c7c76e8 100644
--- a/man/bootctl.xml
+++ b/man/bootctl.xml
@@ -77,7 +77,10 @@
         <literal>SystemdOptions</literal> EFI variable. When called with an argument, sets the variable to
         that value. See
         <citerefentry><refentrytitle>systemd</refentrytitle><manvolnum>1</manvolnum></citerefentry> for the
-        meaning of that variable.</para></listitem>
+        meaning of that variable.</para>
+
+        <para>Note: use of <literal>SystemdOptions</literal> and this command is deprecated.</para>
+        </listitem>
       </varlistentry>
     </variablelist>
   </refsect1>
diff --git a/man/systemd.xml b/man/systemd.xml
index 21c98efecd..708bfa9f8c 100644
--- a/man/systemd.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.xml
@@ -769,8 +769,11 @@
     the command line arguments passed to systemd itself, next to any of the command line options listed in
     the Options section above. If run outside of Linux containers, these arguments are parsed from
     <filename>/proc/cmdline</filename> and from the <literal>SystemdOptions</literal> EFI variable
-    (on EFI systems) instead. Options from <filename>/proc/cmdline</filename> have higher priority. The
-    following variables are understood:</para>
+    (on EFI systems) instead. Options from <filename>/proc/cmdline</filename> have higher priority.</para>
+
+    <para>Note: use of <literal>SystemdOptions</literal> is deprecated.</para>
+
+    <para>The following variables are understood:</para>
 
     <variablelist class='kernel-commandline-options'>
       <varlistentry>
diff --git a/src/boot/bootctl-systemd-efi-options.c b/src/boot/bootctl-systemd-efi-options.c
index d0de9ef4f6..6375f21097 100644
--- a/src/boot/bootctl-systemd-efi-options.c
+++ b/src/boot/bootctl-systemd-efi-options.c
@@ -1,12 +1,16 @@
 /* SPDX-License-Identifier: LGPL-2.1-or-later */
 
 #include "alloc-util.h"
+#include "bootctl.h"
 #include "bootctl-systemd-efi-options.h"
 #include "efi-loader.h"
 
 int verb_systemd_efi_options(int argc, char *argv[], void *userdata) {
         int r;
 
+        if (!arg_quiet)
+                log_notice("Use of the SystemdOptions EFI variable is deprecated.");
+
         if (argc == 1) {
                 _cleanup_free_ char *line = NULL, *new = NULL;