diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 0da58ca8c..0fb8d6aa2 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -53,6 +53,17 @@ pub mod utils;
 mod docbuilder;
 mod web;
 
+use web::page::GlobalAlert;
+
+
+// Warning message shown in the navigation bar of every page. Set to `None` to hide it.
+pub(crate) static GLOBAL_ALERT: Option<GlobalAlert> = Some(GlobalAlert {
+    url: "https://blog.rust-lang.org/2019/09/18/upcoming-docsrs-changes.html",
+    text: "Upcoming docs.rs breaking changes!",
+    css_class: "error",
+    fa_icon: "warning",
+});
+
 
 /// Version string generated at build time contains last git
 /// commit hash and build date
diff --git a/src/web/page.rs b/src/web/page.rs
index 6ccdb263c..d7d081355 100644
--- a/src/web/page.rs
+++ b/src/web/page.rs
@@ -7,6 +7,25 @@ use iron::response::Response;
 use handlebars_iron::Template;
 
 
+pub(crate) struct GlobalAlert {
+    pub(crate) url: &'static str,
+    pub(crate) text: &'static str,
+    pub(crate) css_class: &'static str,
+    pub(crate) fa_icon: &'static str,
+}
+
+impl ToJson for GlobalAlert {
+    fn to_json(&self) -> Json {
+        let mut map = BTreeMap::new();
+        map.insert("url".to_string(), self.url.to_json());
+        map.insert("text".to_string(), self.text.to_json());
+        map.insert("css_class".to_string(), self.css_class.to_json());
+        map.insert("fa_icon".to_string(), self.fa_icon.to_json());
+        Json::Object(map)
+    }
+}
+
+
 pub struct Page<T: ToJson> {
     title: Option<String>,
     content: T,
@@ -89,6 +108,11 @@ impl<T: ToJson> ToJson for Page<T> {
             tree.insert("title".to_owned(), title.to_json());
         }
 
+        tree.insert("has_global_alert".to_owned(), ::GLOBAL_ALERT.is_some().to_json());
+        if let Some(ref global_alert) = ::GLOBAL_ALERT {
+            tree.insert("global_alert".to_owned(), global_alert.to_json());
+        }
+
         tree.insert("content".to_owned(), self.content.to_json());
         tree.insert("cratesfyi_version".to_owned(), ::BUILD_VERSION.to_json());
         tree.insert("cratesfyi_version_safe".to_owned(),
diff --git a/templates/navigation.hbs b/templates/navigation.hbs
index c5cb174db..d68bc11c9 100644
--- a/templates/navigation.hbs
+++ b/templates/navigation.hbs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
                 <li class="pure-menu-item"><a href="/about" class="pure-menu-link">About Docs.rs</a></li>
               </ul>
             </li>
+            {{> navigation_global_alert}}
           </ul>
           </form>
         </div>
diff --git a/templates/navigation_global_alert.hbs b/templates/navigation_global_alert.hbs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..428bb02c3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/templates/navigation_global_alert.hbs
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+{{#if ../has_global_alert}}
+<li class="pure-menu-item">
+  <a href="{{../global_alert.url}}" class="pure-menu-link {{../global_alert.css_class}}">
+    <i class="fa fa-fw fa-{{../global_alert.fa_icon}}"></i>
+    {{../global_alert.text}}
+  </a>
+</li>
+{{/if}}
+
diff --git a/templates/navigation_rustdoc.hbs b/templates/navigation_rustdoc.hbs
index 60a767e51..c073b42b2 100644
--- a/templates/navigation_rustdoc.hbs
+++ b/templates/navigation_rustdoc.hbs
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@
               </ul>
             </li>
           {{/with}}
+          {{> navigation_global_alert}}
           </ul>
           </form>
         </div>
diff --git a/templates/style.scss b/templates/style.scss
index 3a97bef66..7698439d4 100644
--- a/templates/style.scss
+++ b/templates/style.scss
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ $color-lifetime-incode: #B76514;   // orangish
 $color-comment-in-code: #8E908C;   // light gray
 $color-background-code: #F5F5F5;   // lighter gray
 $color-border: #ddd;               // gray
+$color-red: #d93d3d;               // red
 $top-navbar-height: 32px;          // height of the floating top navbar
 
 
@@ -214,6 +215,15 @@ div.nav-container {
         color: darken($color-type, 10%);
     }
 
+    // used for global alerts
+    .error {
+        color: $color-red;
+
+        &:hover {
+            color: darken($color-red, 10%);
+        }
+    }
+
     div.rustdoc-navigation {
         span.title {
             display: none;