diff --git a/skimage/filter/__init__.py b/skimage/filter/__init__.py
index 5d43f69d..8b81c254 100644
--- a/skimage/filter/__init__.py
+++ b/skimage/filter/__init__.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ denoise_tv_chambolle = deprecated('skimage.restoration.denoise_tv_chambolle')\
                         (restoration.denoise_tv_chambolle)
 
 # Backward compatibility v<0.11
-@deprecated
+@deprecated('skimage.feature.canny')
 def canny(*args, **kwargs):
     # Hack to avoid circular import
     from skimage.feature._canny import canny as canny_
diff --git a/skimage/filters/__init__.py b/skimage/filters/__init__.py
index aeba00f7..795819c6 100644
--- a/skimage/filters/__init__.py
+++ b/skimage/filters/__init__.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ denoise_tv_chambolle = deprecated('skimage.restoration.denoise_tv_chambolle')\
                         (restoration.denoise_tv_chambolle)
 
 # Backward compatibility v<0.11
-@deprecated
+@deprecated('skimage.feature.canny')
 def canny(*args, **kwargs):
     # Hack to avoid circular import
     from ..feature._canny import canny as canny_
diff --git a/skimage/filters/tests/test_deprecated_imports.py b/skimage/filters/tests/test_deprecated_imports.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2ea21ca2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/skimage/filters/tests/test_deprecated_imports.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+from warnings import catch_warnings, simplefilter
+from ..._shared._warnings import expected_warnings
+from ...data import moon
+
+
+def test_filter_import():
+    with catch_warnings():
+        simplefilter('ignore')
+        from skimage import filter as F
+
+    assert('sobel' in dir(F))
+    assert F._import_warned
+
+
+def test_canny_import():
+    data = moon()
+    with expected_warnings(['skimage.feature.canny']):
+        from skimage.filters import canny
+        canny(data)
diff --git a/skimage/filters/tests/test_filter_import.py b/skimage/filters/tests/test_filter_import.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 90384324..00000000
--- a/skimage/filters/tests/test_filter_import.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,10 +0,0 @@
-from warnings import catch_warnings, simplefilter
-
-
-def test_filter_import():
-    with catch_warnings():
-        simplefilter('ignore')
-        from skimage import filter as F
-
-    assert('sobel' in dir(F))
-    assert F._import_warned