diff --git a/src/gst/gstpipewiresink.c b/src/gst/gstpipewiresink.c
index c7dbe38c5..dde1e85b7 100644
--- a/src/gst/gstpipewiresink.c
+++ b/src/gst/gstpipewiresink.c
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
  * </refsect2>
  */
 
+#define PW_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
+
 #include "config.h"
 #include "gstpipewiresink.h"
 
diff --git a/src/gst/gstpipewiresrc.c b/src/gst/gstpipewiresrc.c
index 4e37846fc..760245c33 100644
--- a/src/gst/gstpipewiresrc.c
+++ b/src/gst/gstpipewiresrc.c
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@
  * </refsect2>
  */
 
+#define PW_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
+
 #include "config.h"
 #include "gstpipewiresrc.h"
 #include "gstpipewireformat.h"
diff --git a/src/modules/module-client-node/v0/client-node.c b/src/modules/module-client-node/v0/client-node.c
index 747a4ad4a..214c1bdfc 100644
--- a/src/modules/module-client-node/v0/client-node.c
+++ b/src/modules/module-client-node/v0/client-node.c
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@
 #include <spa/pod/filter.h>
 #include <spa/utils/keys.h>
 
+#define PW_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
+
 #include "pipewire/pipewire.h"
 #include "pipewire/private.h"
 
diff --git a/src/pipewire/keys.h b/src/pipewire/keys.h
index 8af9bbc7c..81c9c30e0 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/keys.h
+++ b/src/pipewire/keys.h
@@ -155,8 +155,6 @@ extern "C" {
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_EXCLUSIVE		"node.exclusive"	/**< node wants exclusive access to resources */
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_AUTOCONNECT		"node.autoconnect"	/**< node wants to be automatically connected
 								  *  to a compatible node */
-#define PW_KEY_NODE_TARGET		"node.target"		/**< node wants to be connected to the target
-								  *  node/session */
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_LATENCY		"node.latency"		/**< the requested latency of the node as
 								  *  a fraction. Ex: 128/48000 */
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_MAX_LATENCY		"node.max-latency"	/**< the maximum supported latency of the
@@ -173,9 +171,9 @@ extern "C" {
 								  *  active */
 
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_DONT_RECONNECT	"node.dont-reconnect"	/**< don't reconnect this node. The node is
-								  *  initially linked to node.target or
-								  *  target.object or the default node. If the
-								  *  targets is removed, the node is destroyed */
+								  *  initially linked to target.object or the
+								  *  default node. If the target is removed,
+								  *  the node is destroyed */
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_ALWAYS_PROCESS	"node.always-process"	/**< process even when unlinked */
 #define PW_KEY_NODE_WANT_DRIVER		"node.want-driver"	/**< the node wants to be grouped with a driver
 								  *  node in order to schedule the graph. */
@@ -338,9 +336,11 @@ extern "C" {
 
 #ifdef PW_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
 #define PW_KEY_PRIORITY_MASTER		"priority.master"	/**< deprecated */
+#define PW_KEY_NODE_TARGET		"node.target"		/**< deprecated since 0.3.64, use target.object. */
 #endif /* PW_ENABLE_DEPRECATED */
 
-#define PW_KEY_TARGET_OBJECT		"target.object"		/**< a target object to link to */
+#define PW_KEY_TARGET_OBJECT		"target.object"		/**< a target object to link to. This can be
+								  * and object name or object.serial */
 
 /** \}
  */
diff --git a/src/pipewire/stream.c b/src/pipewire/stream.c
index cfd7bd15d..de2ce09e8 100644
--- a/src/pipewire/stream.c
+++ b/src/pipewire/stream.c
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@
 #include <spa/debug/types.h>
 #include <spa/debug/pod.h>
 
+#define PW_ENABLE_DEPRECATED
+
 #include "pipewire/pipewire.h"
 #include "pipewire/stream.h"
 #include "pipewire/private.h"
@@ -1890,6 +1892,7 @@ pw_stream_connect(struct pw_stream *stream,
 	stream_set_state(stream, PW_STREAM_STATE_CONNECTING, NULL);
 
 	if (target_id != PW_ID_ANY)
+		/* this is deprecated but still used by the portal and its apps */
 		pw_properties_setf(stream->properties, PW_KEY_NODE_TARGET, "%d", target_id);
 	else if ((str = getenv("PIPEWIRE_NODE")) != NULL)
 		pw_properties_set(stream->properties, PW_KEY_TARGET_OBJECT, str);