diff --git a/library/std/src/thread/mod.rs b/library/std/src/thread/mod.rs
index 7d404aff30e07..53aa10c592e39 100644
--- a/library/std/src/thread/mod.rs
+++ b/library/std/src/thread/mod.rs
@@ -257,6 +257,7 @@ pub const fn require_unstable_const_init_thread_local() {}
 /// [`unwrap`]: crate::result::Result::unwrap
 /// [naming-threads]: ./index.html#naming-threads
 /// [stack-size]: ./index.html#stack-size
+#[must_use = "must eventually spawn the thread"]
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct Builder {