diff --git a/API.txt b/API.txt
index 210bfc495..814124f60 100644
--- a/API.txt
+++ b/API.txt
@@ -1798,7 +1798,7 @@ option: DNSNameParam('idnssoamname?', cli_name='name_server')
 option: Int('idnssoarefresh', autofill=True, cli_name='refresh', default=3600)
 option: Int('idnssoaretry', autofill=True, cli_name='retry', default=900)
 option: DNSNameParam('idnssoarname', autofill=True, cli_name='admin_email', default=<DNS name hostmaster>)
-option: Int('idnssoaserial', autofill=True, cli_name='serial')
+option: Int('idnssoaserial?', cli_name='serial', deprecated=True)
 option: Str('idnsupdatepolicy?', autofill=True, cli_name='update_policy')
 option: Str('ip_address?')
 option: Str('name_from_ip?')
@@ -1862,7 +1862,7 @@ option: DNSNameParam('idnssoamname?', autofill=False, cli_name='name_server')
 option: Int('idnssoarefresh?', autofill=False, cli_name='refresh', default=3600)
 option: Int('idnssoaretry?', autofill=False, cli_name='retry', default=900)
 option: DNSNameParam('idnssoarname?', autofill=False, cli_name='admin_email', default=<DNS name hostmaster>)
-option: Int('idnssoaserial?', autofill=False, cli_name='serial')
+option: Int('idnssoaserial?', autofill=False, cli_name='serial', deprecated=True)
 option: Str('idnsupdatepolicy?', autofill=False, cli_name='update_policy')
 option: Bool('idnszoneactive?', autofill=False, cli_name='zone_active')
 option: Str('name_from_ip?', autofill=False)
@@ -1899,7 +1899,7 @@ option: DNSNameParam('idnssoamname?', autofill=False, cli_name='name_server')
 option: Int('idnssoarefresh?', autofill=False, cli_name='refresh', default=3600)
 option: Int('idnssoaretry?', autofill=False, cli_name='retry', default=900)
 option: DNSNameParam('idnssoarname?', autofill=False, cli_name='admin_email', default=<DNS name hostmaster>)
-option: Int('idnssoaserial?', autofill=False, cli_name='serial')
+option: Int('idnssoaserial?', autofill=False, cli_name='serial', deprecated=True)
 option: Str('idnsupdatepolicy?', autofill=False, cli_name='update_policy')
 option: Str('name_from_ip?', autofill=False)
 option: Str('nsec3paramrecord?', autofill=False, cli_name='nsec3param_rec')
diff --git a/VERSION.m4 b/VERSION.m4
index 4e28056c5..0f02d4897 100644
--- a/VERSION.m4
+++ b/VERSION.m4
@@ -86,8 +86,8 @@ define(IPA_DATA_VERSION, 20100614120000)
 #                                                      #
 ########################################################
 define(IPA_API_VERSION_MAJOR, 2)
-# Last change: add Random Serial Numbers v3
-define(IPA_API_VERSION_MINOR, 249)
+# Last change: deprecate idnssoaserial in dnszone.
+define(IPA_API_VERSION_MINOR, 250)
 
 ########################################################
 # Following values are auto-generated from values above