diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.6.1.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.6.1.rst
index 1a2a082229..e53c374d3a 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.6.1.rst
+++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.6.1.rst
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ Enhancements
 * Created :py:func:`pvlib.iotools.read_midc` and :py:func:`pvlib.iotools.read_midc_raw_data_from_nrel`
   to read NREL MIDC data. (:issue:`601`)
 * Change :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.sapm_spectral_loss` to avoid numpy warning.
+* Add warning message when :py:func:`pvlib.spa` is reloaded.
 
 
 Bug fixes
diff --git a/pvlib/solarposition.py b/pvlib/solarposition.py
index ad67a9efa9..e4d95fcf3e 100644
--- a/pvlib/solarposition.py
+++ b/pvlib/solarposition.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
 import numpy as np
 import pandas as pd
+import warnings
 
 from pvlib import atmosphere
 from pvlib.tools import datetime_to_djd, djd_to_datetime
@@ -242,12 +243,14 @@ def _spa_python_import(how):
         # reload the module without compiling
         # the PVLIB_USE_NUMBA env variable is used to tell the module
         # to not compile with numba
+        warnings.warn('Reloading spa to use numpy')
         os.environ['PVLIB_USE_NUMBA'] = '0'
         spa = reload(spa)
         del os.environ['PVLIB_USE_NUMBA']
     elif how == 'numba' and not using_numba:
         # The spa module was not compiled to numba code, so set
         # PVLIB_USE_NUMBA so it does compile to numba on reload.
+        warnings.warn('Reloading spa to use numba')
         os.environ['PVLIB_USE_NUMBA'] = '1'
         spa = reload(spa)
         del os.environ['PVLIB_USE_NUMBA']