diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 2fb081aa1c..52a3a6a2d1 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -117,6 +117,8 @@ Deprecated Functionality
 
 - ``binpac::string_to_val()`` is deprecated, use ``StringVal`` constructor.
 
+- Returning ``Val*`` from BIFs is deprecated, return ``IntrusivePtr`` instead.
+
 Zeek 3.1.0
 ==========
 
diff --git a/src/Func.cc b/src/Func.cc
index d7fa698e8a..cc8e0b92f3 100644
--- a/src/Func.cc
+++ b/src/Func.cc
@@ -891,6 +891,9 @@ function_ingredients::~function_ingredients()
 	delete inits;
 	}
 
+BifReturnVal::BifReturnVal(std::nullptr_t) noexcept
+	{ }
+
 BifReturnVal::BifReturnVal(Val* v) noexcept
 	: rval(AdoptRef{}, v)
 	{ }
diff --git a/src/Func.h b/src/Func.h
index a66bc5934f..dff2c9a36b 100644
--- a/src/Func.h
+++ b/src/Func.h
@@ -201,6 +201,9 @@ public:
 		: rval(AdoptRef{}, v.release())
 		{ }
 
+	BifReturnVal(std::nullptr_t) noexcept;
+
+	[[deprecated("Remove in v4.1.  Return an IntrusivePtr instead.")]]
 	BifReturnVal(Val* v) noexcept;
 
 private: