diff --git a/Mk/bsd.port.mk b/Mk/bsd.port.mk
index 5730557f93db..b327e320e234 100644
--- a/Mk/bsd.port.mk
+++ b/Mk/bsd.port.mk
@@ -1416,11 +1416,13 @@ USES+=	apache:${USE_APACHE:C/2([0-9])/2.\1/g}
 .include "${PORTSDIR}/Mk/bsd.gecko.mk"
 .endif
 
-.if defined(USE_GNOME) || defined(INSTALLS_ICONS)
+.if (defined(USE_GNOME) || defined(INSTALLS_ICONS)) && empty(USES:Mgnome)
+DEV_WARNING+=	"Using USE_GNOME alone is deprecated, please add USES=gnome."
 USES+=	gnome
 .endif
 
-.if defined(USE_MATE)
+.if defined(USE_MATE) && empty(USES:Mmate)
+DEV_WARNING+=	"Using USE_MATE alone is deprecated, please add USES=mate."
 USES+=	mate
 .endif