diff --git a/src/isomorphic/classic/element/ReactElement.js b/src/isomorphic/classic/element/ReactElement.js
index e95941846c789..f9a26a71949ca 100644
--- a/src/isomorphic/classic/element/ReactElement.js
+++ b/src/isomorphic/classic/element/ReactElement.js
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 var ReactCurrentOwner = require('ReactCurrentOwner');
 
 var assign = require('Object.assign');
+var warning = require('warning');
 var canDefineProperty = require('canDefineProperty');
 
 // The Symbol used to tag the ReactElement type. If there is no native Symbol
@@ -159,6 +160,37 @@ ReactElement.createElement = function(type, config, children) {
     }
   }
 
+  if (__DEV__) {
+    // Create dummy `key` and `ref` property to `props` to warn users
+    // against its use
+    Object.defineProperty(props, 'key', {
+      get: function () {
+        warning(
+          false,
+          '%s: `key` is not a prop. Trying to access it will result ' +
+          'in `undefined` being returned. If you need to access the same ' +
+          'value within the child component, you should pass it as a different ' +
+          'prop. (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/33682774/how-to-access-the' +
+          '-key-property-from-a-reactjs-component)',
+          'displayName' in type ? type.displayName: 'Element'
+        );
+      }
+    });
+    Object.defineProperty(props, 'ref', {
+      get: function () {
+        warning(
+          false,
+          '%s: `ref` is not a prop. Trying to access it will result ' +
+          'in `undefined` being returned. If you need to access the same ' +
+          'value within the child component, you should pass it as a different ' +
+          'prop. (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/33682774/how-to-access-the' +
+          '-key-property-from-a-reactjs-component)',
+          'displayName' in type ? type.displayName: 'Element'
+        );
+      }
+    });
+  }
+
   return ReactElement(
     type,
     key,
diff --git a/src/isomorphic/classic/element/__tests__/ReactElement-test.js b/src/isomorphic/classic/element/__tests__/ReactElement-test.js
index b4a0bbd395eac..5b98f1f64d11d 100644
--- a/src/isomorphic/classic/element/__tests__/ReactElement-test.js
+++ b/src/isomorphic/classic/element/__tests__/ReactElement-test.js
@@ -58,6 +58,66 @@ describe('ReactElement', function() {
     expect(element.props).toEqual(expectation);
   });
 
+  it('should warn when `key` is being accessed', function() {
+    spyOn(console, 'error');
+    var container = document.createElement('div');
+    var Child =  React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        return <div> {this.props.key} </div>
+      },
+    });
+    var Parent = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        return (
+          <div>
+            <Child key="0" />
+            <Child key="1" />
+            <Child key="2" />
+          </div>
+        );
+      },
+    });
+    expect(console.error.calls.length).toBe(0);
+    ReactDOM.render(<Parent />, container);
+    expect(console.error.calls.length).toBe(3);
+    expect(console.error.argsForCall[0][0]).toContain(
+      'Child: `key` is not a prop. Trying to access it will result ' +
+      'in `undefined` being returned. If you need to access the same ' +
+      'value within the child component, you should pass it as a different ' +
+      'prop. (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/33682774/how-to-access-the' +
+      '-key-property-from-a-reactjs-component)'
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should warn when `ref` is being accessed', function() {
+    spyOn(console, 'error');
+    var container = document.createElement('div');
+    var Child =  React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        return <div> {this.props.ref} </div>
+      },
+    });
+    var Parent = React.createClass({
+      render: function() {
+        return (
+          <div>
+            <Child ref="childElement" />
+          </div>
+        );
+      },
+    });
+    expect(console.error.calls.length).toBe(0);
+    ReactDOM.render(<Parent />, container);
+    expect(console.error.calls.length).toBe(1);
+    expect(console.error.argsForCall[0][0]).toContain(
+      'Child: `ref` is not a prop. Trying to access it will result ' +
+      'in `undefined` being returned. If you need to access the same ' +
+      'value within the child component, you should pass it as a different ' +
+      'prop. (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/33682774/how-to-access-the' +
+      '-key-property-from-a-reactjs-component)'
+    );
+  });
+
   it('allows a string to be passed as the type', function() {
     var element = React.createFactory('div')();
     expect(element.type).toBe('div');