diff --git a/cli/command/image/build.go b/cli/command/image/build.go
index 36b9219d7e..5e57778f19 100644
--- a/cli/command/image/build.go
+++ b/cli/command/image/build.go
@@ -246,7 +246,11 @@ func runBuild(dockerCli command.Cli, options buildOptions) error {
 	)
 
 	if options.stream {
-		return errors.New("Experimental flag --stream was removed, enable BuildKit instead with DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1")
+		_, _ = fmt.Fprint(dockerCli.Err(), `DEPRECATED: The experimental --stream flag has been removed and the build context
+            will be sent non-streaming. Enable BuildKit instead with DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1
+            to stream build context, see https://docs.docker.com/go/buildkit/
+
+`)
 	}
 
 	if options.dockerfileFromStdin() {
diff --git a/docs/deprecated.md b/docs/deprecated.md
index d4f7e37e89..91ae713f65 100644
--- a/docs/deprecated.md
+++ b/docs/deprecated.md
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ Deprecated | [Classic Swarm and overlay networks using external key/value stores
 Deprecated | [Support for the legacy `~/.dockercfg` configuration file for authentication](#support-for-legacy-dockercfg-configuration-files)   | v20.10     | -
 Deprecated | [CLI plugins support](#cli-plugins-support)                                                                                        | v20.10     | -
 Deprecated | [Dockerfile legacy `ENV name value` syntax](#dockerfile-legacy-env-name-value-syntax)                                              | v20.10     | -
+Removed    | [`docker build --stream` flag (experimental)](#docker-build---stream-flag-experimental)                                            | v20.10     | v20.10
 Deprecated | [Configuration options for experimental CLI features](#configuration-options-for-experimental-cli-features)                        | v19.03     | v20.10
 Deprecated | [Pushing and pulling with image manifest v2 schema 1](#pushing-and-pulling-with-image-manifest-v2-schema-1)                        | v19.03     | v20.10
 Removed    | [`docker engine` subcommands](#docker-engine-subcommands)                                                                          | v19.03     | v20.10
@@ -174,6 +175,23 @@ syntax, for example:
 ENV ONE="" TWO="" THREE="world"
 ```
 
+### `docker build --stream` flag (experimental)
+
+**Deprecated in Release: v20.10**
+**Removed in Release: v20.10**
+
+Docker v17.07 introduced an experimental `--stream` flag on `docker build` which
+allowed the build-context to be incrementally sent to the daemon, instead of
+unconditionally sending the whole build-context.
+
+This functionality has been reimplemented as part of BuildKit, which uses streaming
+by default and the `--stream` option will be ignored when using the classic builder,
+printing a deprecation warning instead.
+
+Users that want to use this feature are encouraged to enable BuildKit by setting
+the `DOCKER_BUILDKIT=1` environment variable or through the daemon or CLI configuration
+files.
+
 ### Pushing and pulling with image manifest v2 schema 1
 
 **Deprecated in Release: v19.03**