diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
index 4b64a2529ac..eaf2d456f3f 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
@@ -431,6 +431,7 @@ def display_specs(specs, args=None, **kwargs):
 
     """
 
+    # FIXME (compiler as nodes): remove the "show full compiler" arguments, and its use
     def get_arg(name, default=None):
         """Prefer kwargs, then args, then default."""
         if name in kwargs:
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
index 29ac155984a..b019db4316d 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ def setup_parser(subparser):
         "--show-full-compiler",
         action="store_true",
         dest="show_full_compiler",
-        help="show full compiler specs",
+        help="(DEPRECATED) show full compiler specs",
     )
     implicit_explicit = subparser.add_mutually_exclusive_group()
     implicit_explicit.add_argument(