diff --git a/doc/api/api_changes/2018-01-29-AL.rst b/doc/api/api_changes/2018-01-29-AL.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..ad6c36618fbc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/doc/api/api_changes/2018-01-29-AL.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+Deprecation of backend_tkagg.AxisMenu
+`````````````````````````````````````
+The above-mentioned class is deprecated, as it has become unused since the
+removal of "classic" toolbars.
diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
index 59a1e6d7c78b..8fbc88691271 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backends/backend_tkagg.py
@@ -582,6 +582,7 @@ def full_screen_toggle(self):
         self.window.attributes('-fullscreen', not is_fullscreen)
 
 
+@cbook.deprecated("2.2")
 class AxisMenu(object):
     def __init__(self, master, naxes):
         self._master = master