diff --git a/client/mysql_upgrade.c b/client/mysql_upgrade.c
index cbc60d8acad..82bbf440bb4 100644
--- a/client/mysql_upgrade.c
+++ b/client/mysql_upgrade.c
@@ -251,8 +251,12 @@ get_one_option(int optid, const struct my_option *opt,
     break;
 
   case 'b': /* --basedir   */
-  case 'v': /* --verbose   */
   case 'd': /* --datadir   */
+    fprintf(stderr, "%s: the '--%s' option is always ignored\n",
+            my_progname, optid == 'b' ? "basedir" : "datadir");
+    /* FALLTHROUGH */
+
+  case 'v': /* --verbose   */
   case 'f': /* --force     */
     add_option= FALSE;
     break;