diff --git a/redis/connection.py b/redis/connection.py
index 5528589026..66538e572f 100755
--- a/redis/connection.py
+++ b/redis/connection.py
@@ -71,6 +71,9 @@
     # only use byte buffer if hiredis supports it
     if not HIREDIS_SUPPORTS_BYTE_BUFFER:
         HIREDIS_USE_BYTE_BUFFER = False
+else:
+    msg = "redis-py works best with hiredis. Please consider installing"
+    warnings.warn(msg)
 
 SYM_STAR = b'*'
 SYM_DOLLAR = b'$'