diff --git a/libs/global/kis_shared_ptr.h b/libs/global/kis_shared_ptr.h
--- a/libs/global/kis_shared_ptr.h
+++ b/libs/global/kis_shared_ptr.h
@@ -356,6 +356,7 @@
         return isConsistent() ? d : 0;
     }
 
+    Q_DECL_DEPRECATED_X("use toStrongRef() and a null check instead")
     inline const T& operator*() const {
         if (!isValid()) {
             warnKrita << kisBacktrace();
@@ -365,6 +366,7 @@
         return *d;
     }
 
+    Q_DECL_DEPRECATED_X("use toStrongRef() and a null check instead")
     inline T& operator*() {
         if (!isValid()) {
             warnKrita << kisBacktrace();
@@ -374,6 +376,7 @@
         return *d;
     }
 
+    Q_DECL_DEPRECATED_X("use toStrongRef() and a null check instead")
     inline const T* operator->() const {
         if (!isValid()) {
             warnKrita << kisBacktrace();
@@ -383,6 +386,7 @@
         return d;
     }
 
+    Q_DECL_DEPRECATED_X("use toStrongRef() and a null check instead")
     inline T* operator->() {
         if (!isValid()) {
             warnKrita << kisBacktrace();