diff --git a/cython/gtsam/__init__.py b/cython/gtsam/__init__.py
index 9bda86efe..724572240 100644
--- a/cython/gtsam/__init__.py
+++ b/cython/gtsam/__init__.py
@@ -1 +1,19 @@
 from .gtsam import *
+
+import gtsam_unstable
+
+
+def deprecated_wrapper(item, name):
+    def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+        from warnings import warn
+        warn('importing the unstable item "{}" from gtsam is deprecated. Please import it from gtsam_unstable.'.format(name))
+        return item(*args, **kwargs)
+    return wrapper
+
+for name in dir(gtsam_unstable):
+    if not name.startswith('__'):
+        item = getattr(gtsam_unstable, name)
+        if callable(item):
+            item = deprecated_wrapper(item, name)
+        globals()[name] = item
+