diff --git a/tokio/src/runtime/task/join.rs b/tokio/src/runtime/task/join.rs
index 7deb926578b..7e47e568730 100644
--- a/tokio/src/runtime/task/join.rs
+++ b/tokio/src/runtime/task/join.rs
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ impl<T> JoinHandle<T> {
     /// # }
     /// ```
     /// [cancelled]: method@super::error::JoinError::is_cancelled
-    #[must_use]
+    #[must_use = "abort handles do nothing unless `.abort` is called"]
     pub fn abort_handle(&self) -> super::AbortHandle {
         self.raw.ref_inc();
         super::AbortHandle::new(self.raw)