diff --git a/ironic/conf/agent.py b/ironic/conf/agent.py
index bfa7e25c90..9cea41d821 100644
--- a/ironic/conf/agent.py
+++ b/ironic/conf/agent.py
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ opts = [
                 help=_('Whether Ironic will manage booting of the agent '
                        'ramdisk. If set to False, you will need to configure '
                        'your mechanism to allow booting the agent '
-                       'ramdisk.')),
+                       'ramdisk. Deprecated for removal in 2025.2 release.'),
+                deprecated_for_removal=True),
     cfg.IntOpt('memory_consumed_by_agent',
                default=0,
                mutable=True,
diff --git a/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-manage-agent-boot-8474287a11b485cc.yaml b/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-manage-agent-boot-8474287a11b485cc.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..92ac6e328a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/releasenotes/notes/deprecate-manage-agent-boot-8474287a11b485cc.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+---
+deprecations:
+  - |
+    The ``[[agent]]manage_agent_boot`` configuration directive is being
+    deprecated. It is completely untested, and requires operators to
+    manually configure significant parts of infrastructure typically
+    handled by Ironic. Operators using this configuration are advised
+    to migrate away from it before it's scheduled removal during the
+    2025.2 cycle releases, coming out late 2025.
\ No newline at end of file