diff --git a/src/ORM/FieldType/DBField.php b/src/ORM/FieldType/DBField.php
index 94b5ee31f15..04a713de84a 100644
--- a/src/ORM/FieldType/DBField.php
+++ b/src/ORM/FieldType/DBField.php
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@ abstract class DBField extends ViewableData implements DBIndexable
      * @var $default mixed Default-value in the database.
      * Might be overridden on DataObject-level, but still useful for setting defaults on
      * already existing records after a db-build.
+     * @deprecated 5.4.0 Call setDefaultValue() in constructor instead
      */
     protected $defaultVal;