diff --git a/grade/tests/behat/behat_grade.php b/grade/tests/behat/behat_grade.php
index 6d0516dcec1..b44ea5562a6 100644
--- a/grade/tests/behat/behat_grade.php
+++ b/grade/tests/behat/behat_grade.php
@@ -279,9 +279,13 @@ class behat_grade extends behat_base {
     /**
      * Select the tab in the gradebook. We must be on one of the gradebook pages already.
      *
+     * @deprecated since 4.0 - use select_in_gradebook_navigation_selector() instead.
      * @param string $gradepath examples: "View > User report", "Letters > View", "Scales"
      */
     protected function select_in_gradebook_tabs($gradepath) {
+        debugging('The function select_in_gradebook_tabs() is deprecated, please use ' .
+            'select_in_gradebook_navigation_selector() instead.', DEBUG_DEVELOPER);
+
         $gradepath = preg_split('/\s*>\s*/', trim($gradepath));
         if (count($gradepath) > 2) {
             throw new coding_exception('Grade path is too long (must have no more than two items separated with ">")');
diff --git a/grade/upgrade.txt b/grade/upgrade.txt
index be9df572f69..e0ed9a55bca 100644
--- a/grade/upgrade.txt
+++ b/grade/upgrade.txt
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ Information provided here is intended especially for developers.
 
 === 4.0 ===
 
+* The select_in_gradebook_tabs() function in behat_grade.php has been deprecated. Please use the function
+  select_in_gradebook_navigation_selector() instead.
 * The setting $CFG->grade_navmethod setting has been completely removed because it's not required anymore. This setting
   was used to set the type of navigation (tabs or dropdown box) used in gradebook which is now replaced with tertiary
   navigation.