diff --git a/include/cantera/base/global.h b/include/cantera/base/global.h
index f186f5163..1f2e70ec2 100644
--- a/include/cantera/base/global.h
+++ b/include/cantera/base/global.h
@@ -187,6 +187,22 @@ void warn_deprecated(const std::string& method, const std::string& extra="");
 //! @copydoc Application::suppress_deprecation_warnings
 void suppress_deprecation_warnings();
 
+//! helper function passing user warning to global handler
+void _warn_user(const std::string& method, const std::string& extra);
+
+/*!
+ * Print a user warning raised from *method*.
+ *
+ * @param method  method name
+ * @param msg  C format string for the following arguments
+ * @param args  arguments used to interpolate the format string
+ */
+template <typename... Args>
+void warn_user(const std::string& method, const std::string& msg,
+               const Args&... args) {
+    _warn_user(method, fmt::format(msg, args...));
+}
+
 //! @copydoc Application::make_deprecation_warnings_fatal
 void make_deprecation_warnings_fatal();
 
diff --git a/src/base/application.cpp b/src/base/application.cpp
index b40ac25d4..24f5823d1 100644
--- a/src/base/application.cpp
+++ b/src/base/application.cpp
@@ -170,7 +170,14 @@ void Application::warn_deprecated(const std::string& method,
         return;
     }
     warnings.insert(method);
-    writelog("WARNING: '" + method + "' is deprecated. " + extra);
+    writelog("DeprecationWarning: '" + method + "': " + extra);
+    writelogendl();
+}
+
+void Application::warn_user(const std::string& method,
+                            const std::string& extra)
+{
+    writelog("UserWarning: '" + method + "': " + extra);
     writelogendl();
 }
 
diff --git a/src/base/application.h b/src/base/application.h
index 62d87b77b..aefa7f9d0 100644
--- a/src/base/application.h
+++ b/src/base/application.h
@@ -347,6 +347,10 @@ public:
         m_fatal_deprecation_warnings = true;
     }
 
+    //! Print a user warning arising during usage of *method*. Additional
+    //! information can be specified in *extra*.
+    void warn_user(const std::string& method, const std::string& extra="");
+
     //! Globally disable printing of warnings about problematic thermo data,
     //! e.g. NASA polynomials with discontinuities at the midpoint temperature.
     void suppress_thermo_warnings(bool suppress=true) {
diff --git a/src/base/global.cpp b/src/base/global.cpp
index d4ba8235d..cbf762033 100644
--- a/src/base/global.cpp
+++ b/src/base/global.cpp
@@ -56,6 +56,11 @@ void warn_deprecated(const std::string& method, const std::string& extra)
     app()->warn_deprecated(method, extra);
 }
 
+void _warn_user(const std::string& method, const std::string& extra)
+{
+    app()->warn_user(method, extra);
+}
+
 void suppress_deprecation_warnings()
 {
     app()->suppress_deprecation_warnings();