diff --git a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.10.txt b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.10.txt
index 65df74b9c4..6286485bdb 100644
--- a/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.10.txt
+++ b/Documentation/RelNotes/1.7.10.txt
@@ -26,8 +26,8 @@ Compatibility Notes
    Git v1.7.8 or newer.
 
  * The "--binary/-b" options to "git am" have been a no-op for quite a
-   while and was deprecated in mid 2008 (v1.6.0).  When you give these
-   options to "git am", it will now fail with an error.
+   while and were deprecated in mid 2008 (v1.6.0).  When you give these
+   options to "git am", it will now warn and ask you not to use them.
 
 
 Updates since v1.7.9
diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index faae820719..4da0ddafc4 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -380,8 +380,8 @@ do
 	-i|--interactive)
 		interactive=t ;;
 	-b|--binary)
-		echo >&2 "The -b/--binary option was deprecated in 1.6.0 and removed in 1.7.10."
-		die "Please adjust your scripts."
+		echo >&2 "The $1 option has been a no-op for long time, and"
+		echo >&2 "it will be removed. Please do not use it anymore."
 		;;
 	-3|--3way)
 		threeway=t ;;