diff --git a/tools/nfdc/available-commands.cpp b/tools/nfdc/available-commands.cpp
index cc6cecc..586da48 100644
--- a/tools/nfdc/available-commands.cpp
+++ b/tools/nfdc/available-commands.cpp
@@ -47,22 +47,27 @@
   {
     std::string subcommand;
     std::string title;
+    std::string replacementCommand; ///< replacement for deprecated legacy subcommand
   };
   const std::vector<LegacyNfdcCommandDefinition> legacyNfdcSubcommands{
-    {"register", "register a prefix"},
-    {"unregister", "unregister a prefix"},
-    {"create", "create a face"},
-    {"destroy", "destroy a face"},
-    {"set-strategy", "set strategy choice on namespace"},
-    {"unset-strategy", "unset strategy choice on namespace"},
-    {"add-nexthop", "add FIB nexthop"},
-    {"remove-nexthop", "remove FIB nexthop"}
+    {"register", "register a prefix", ""},
+    {"unregister", "unregister a prefix", ""},
+    {"create", "create a face", "face create"},
+    {"destroy", "destroy a face", "face destroy"},
+    {"set-strategy", "set strategy choice on namespace", ""},
+    {"unset-strategy", "unset strategy choice on namespace", ""},
+    {"add-nexthop", "add FIB nexthop", ""},
+    {"remove-nexthop", "remove FIB nexthop", ""}
   };
   for (const LegacyNfdcCommandDefinition& lncd : legacyNfdcSubcommands) {
     CommandDefinition def(lncd.subcommand, "");
     def.setTitle(lncd.title);
     def.addArg("args", ArgValueType::ANY, Required::NO, Positional::YES);
-    parser.addCommand(def, &legacyNfdcMain);
+    auto modes = AVAILABLE_IN_ONE_SHOT | AVAILABLE_IN_HELP;
+    if (!lncd.replacementCommand.empty()) {
+      modes = modes & ~AVAILABLE_IN_HELP;
+    }
+    parser.addCommand(def, bind(&legacyNfdcMain, _1, lncd.replacementCommand), modes);
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.cpp b/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.cpp
index 86d9ad5..5f4f81f 100644
--- a/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.cpp
+++ b/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.cpp
@@ -326,8 +326,13 @@
 }
 
 void
-legacyNfdcMain(ExecuteContext& ctx)
+legacyNfdcMain(ExecuteContext& ctx, const std::string& replacementCommand)
 {
+  if (!replacementCommand.empty()) {
+    std::cerr << "'nfdc " << ctx.noun << "' command is deprecated. "
+              << "Use 'nfdc " << replacementCommand << "' instead.\n";
+  }
+
   LegacyNfdc p(ctx.face, ctx.keyChain);
 
   const std::string& subcommand = ctx.noun;
diff --git a/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.hpp b/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.hpp
index 43e82c0..6ae9abe 100644
--- a/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.hpp
+++ b/tools/nfdc/legacy-nfdc.hpp
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
 legacyNfdcUsage();
 
 void
-legacyNfdcMain(ExecuteContext& ctx);
+legacyNfdcMain(ExecuteContext& ctx, const std::string& replacementCommand);
 
 } // namespace nfdc
 } // namespace tools