diff --git a/driver-core/src/main/com/mongodb/MongoNamespace.java b/driver-core/src/main/com/mongodb/MongoNamespace.java
index 67991c2a956..2395eaab80f 100644
--- a/driver-core/src/main/com/mongodb/MongoNamespace.java
+++ b/driver-core/src/main/com/mongodb/MongoNamespace.java
@@ -37,7 +37,10 @@
 public final class MongoNamespace {
     /**
      * The collection name in which to execute a command.
+     * @deprecated there is no replacement for this constant, as it is only needed for the OP_QUERY wire protocol message, which has
+     * been replaced by OP_MSG
      */
+    @Deprecated
     public static final String COMMAND_COLLECTION_NAME = "$cmd";
 
     private static final Set<Character> PROHIBITED_CHARACTERS_IN_DATABASE_NAME =