diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/requirement.rb b/Library/Homebrew/requirement.rb
index b3acbe665c..3424037752 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/requirement.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/requirement.rb
@@ -102,7 +102,9 @@ class Requirement
   end
 
   class << self
-    attr_rw :fatal, :build, :default_formula
+    attr_rw :fatal, :default_formula
+    # build is deprecated, use `depends_on <requirement> => :build` instead
+    attr_rw :build
 
     def satisfy(options={}, &block)
       @satisfied ||= Requirement::Satisfier.new(options, &block)