diff --git a/news/6a054cec-e4d6-4494-a554-90a2c0bee837.trivial b/news/6a054cec-e4d6-4494-a554-90a2c0bee837.trivial
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..e69de29bb2d
diff --git a/src/pip/_internal/main.py b/src/pip/_internal/main.py
index 1e922402a0b..855569f3101 100644
--- a/src/pip/_internal/main.py
+++ b/src/pip/_internal/main.py
@@ -19,6 +19,32 @@
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
+# Do not import and use main() directly! Using it directly is actively
+# discouraged by pip's maintainers. The name, location and behavior of
+# this function is subject to change, so calling it directly is not
+# portable across different pip versions.
+
+# In addition, running pip in-process is unsupported and unsafe. This is
+# elaborated in detail at
+# https://pip.pypa.io/en/stable/user_guide/#using-pip-from-your-program.
+# That document also provides suggestions that should work for nearly
+# all users that are considering importing and using main() directly.
+
+# However, we know that certain users will still want to invoke pip
+# in-process. If you understand and accept the implications of using pip
+# in an unsupported manner, the best approach is to use runpy to avoid
+# depending on the exact location of this entry point.
+
+# The following example shows how to use runpy to invoke pip in that
+# case:
+#
+#     sys.argv = ["pip", your, args, here]
+#     runpy.run_module("pip", run_name="__main__")
+#
+# Note that this will exit the process after running, unlike a direct
+# call to main. As it is not safe to do any processing after calling
+# main, this should not be an issue in practice.
+
 def main(args=None):
     if args is None:
         args = sys.argv[1:]