diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
index 221b6c60b76..5cb02df6963 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/__init__.py
@@ -434,6 +434,7 @@ 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 207d472de3a..24f11c5fe38 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/cmd/find.py
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ 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(