diff --git a/Doc/lib/libbsddb.tex b/Doc/lib/libbsddb.tex
index e66b2bbe8a69..29cecec8f306 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libbsddb.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libbsddb.tex
@@ -86,6 +86,12 @@ interpretation.
   \seemodule{dbhash}{DBM-style interface to the \module{bsddb}}
 \end{seealso}
 
+\begin{notice}
+Beginning in 2.3 some Unix versions of Python may have a \module{bsddb185}
+module.  This is present \emph{only} to allow backwards compatibility with
+systems which ship with the old Berkeley DB 1.85 database library.  The
+\module{bsddb185} module should never be used directly in new code.
+\end{notice}
 
 \subsection{Hash, BTree and Record Objects \label{bsddb-objects}}
 
diff --git a/Doc/lib/libundoc.tex b/Doc/lib/libundoc.tex
index c1e3760584c1..09402b51c50c 100644
--- a/Doc/lib/libundoc.tex
+++ b/Doc/lib/libundoc.tex
@@ -62,6 +62,12 @@ OS/2 platforms.
 --- Implementation on \module{os.path} on \POSIX.
 \end{description}
 
+\item[\module{bsddb185}]
+--- Backwards compatibility module for systems which still use the Berkeley
+DB 1.85 module.  It is normally only available on certain BSD Unix-based
+systems.  It should never be used directly.
+\end{description}
+
 
 \section{Multimedia}