diff --git a/specs/template.rst b/specs/template.rst
index 96ff966..2de630d 100644
--- a/specs/template.rst
+++ b/specs/template.rst
@@ -22,6 +22,15 @@ https://blueprints.launchpad.net/designate/+spec/example
 
 Introduction paragraph -- why are we doing anything?
 
+If your specification proposes any changes to the Designate REST API such
+as changing parameters which can be returned or accepted, or even
+the semantics of what happens when a client calls into the API, then
+you should add the APIImpact flag to the commit message. Specifications with
+the APIImpact flag can be found with the following query::
+
+https://review.openstack.org/#/q/status:open+project:openstack/designate-specs+message:apiimpact,n,z
+
+
 Problem description
 ===================