diff --git a/deps/rabbitmq_cli/lib/rabbitmq/cli/ctl/commands/hipe_compile_command.ex b/deps/rabbitmq_cli/lib/rabbitmq/cli/ctl/commands/hipe_compile_command.ex
index bb0beead65..ed28cb3f67 100644
--- a/deps/rabbitmq_cli/lib/rabbitmq/cli/ctl/commands/hipe_compile_command.ex
+++ b/deps/rabbitmq_cli/lib/rabbitmq/cli/ctl/commands/hipe_compile_command.ex
@@ -84,8 +84,8 @@ defmodule RabbitMQ.CLI.Ctl.Commands.HipeCompileCommand do
   def help_section(), do: :operations
 
   def description() do
-    "Performs HiPE-compilation of [some] server modules to the given directory "
-    <> "to be used with RABBITMQ_SERVER_CODE_PATH"
+    "Only exists for backwards compatibility. HiPE support has been dropped starting with Erlang 22. "
+    <> "Do not use"
   end
 
   def banner([target_dir], _) do