diff --git a/mercurial/registrar.py b/mercurial/registrar.py
--- a/mercurial/registrar.py
+++ b/mercurial/registrar.py
@@ -191,7 +191,18 @@
         func.inferrepo = inferrepo
         func.intents = intents or set()
         func.helpcategory = helpcategory
+
+        if name.startswith("^"):
+            msg = (
+                "^ command prefix has been deprecated,"
+                " use `@command(..., helpbasic=True)` instead"
+            )
+            util.nouideprecwarn(msg, 5.0)
+            name = name[1:]
+            helpbasic = True
+
         func.helpbasic = helpbasic
+
         if synopsis:
             self._table[name] = func, list(options), synopsis
         else: