diff --git a/src/libcore/mem/mod.rs b/src/libcore/mem/mod.rs
index 07f7d28bb7546..3fa2b7a2d042c 100644
--- a/src/libcore/mem/mod.rs
+++ b/src/libcore/mem/mod.rs
@@ -808,6 +808,7 @@ pub fn take<T: Default>(dest: &mut T) -> T {
 /// [`Clone`]: ../../std/clone/trait.Clone.html
 #[inline]
 #[stable(feature = "rust1", since = "1.0.0")]
+#[must_use = "if you don't need the old value, you can just assign the new value directly"]
 pub fn replace<T>(dest: &mut T, mut src: T) -> T {
     swap(dest, &mut src);
     src