diff --git a/classes.py b/classes.py
index 0e2e611..ef1cae2 100644
--- a/classes.py
+++ b/classes.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class ProtocolError(Exception):
 
 ### Internal classes (users, servers, channels)
 
-class Irc():
+class Irc(utils.DeprecatedAttributesObject):
     """Base IRC object for PyLink."""
 
     def __init__(self, netname, proto, conf):
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ class Irc():
         (a string), the name of the protocol module to use for this connection,
         and a configuration object.
         """
+        self.deprecated_attributes = {'conf': 'Deprecated since 1.2; consider switching to conf.conf'}
+
         self.loghandlers = []
         self.name = netname
         self.conf = conf
diff --git a/utils.py b/utils.py
index 64616bf..13d93b1 100644
--- a/utils.py
+++ b/utils.py
@@ -560,3 +560,17 @@ class IRCParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
 
     def error(self, message):
         raise InvalidArgumentsError(message)
+
+class DeprecatedAttributesObject():
+    """
+    Object implementing deprecated attributes and warnings on access.
+    """
+
+    def __getattribute__(self, attr):
+        # Note: "self.deprecated_attributes" calls this too, so the != check is
+        # needed to prevent a recursive loop!
+        if attr != 'deprecated_attributes' and attr in self.deprecated_attributes:
+            log.warning('Attribute %s.%s is deprecated: %s' % (self.__class__.__name__, attr,
+                        self.deprecated_attributes.get(attr)))
+
+        return object.__getattribute__(self, attr)