diff --git a/changelogs/fragments/deprecate-hash-behaviour.yml b/changelogs/fragments/deprecate-hash-behaviour.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6786a4a04d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelogs/fragments/deprecate-hash-behaviour.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+deprecated_features:
+- hash_behaviour - Deprecate ``hash_behaviour`` for future removal.
diff --git a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
index bdc4564f2c..f9c8043489 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
+++ b/lib/ansible/config/base.yml
@@ -692,6 +692,10 @@ DEFAULT_HASH_BEHAVIOUR:
   env: [{name: ANSIBLE_HASH_BEHAVIOUR}]
   ini:
   - {key: hash_behaviour, section: defaults}
+  deprecated:
+    why: This feature is fragile and not portable, leading to continual confusion and misuse
+    version: "2.13"
+    alternatives: the ``combine`` filter explicitly
 DEFAULT_HOST_LIST:
   name: Inventory Source
   default: /etc/ansible/hosts