diff --git a/il-gen.c b/il-gen.c
index cf3aff53..40d7fbe1 100644
--- a/il-gen.c
+++ b/il-gen.c
@@ -18,6 +18,8 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 59 Temple Place, Suite 330, Boston, MA  02111-1307  USA
  */
 
+#error this code has bit-rotted since 2003
+
 /* number of available registers */
 #define NB_REGS             3