diff --git a/doc/ref_kernel.rst b/doc/ref_kernel.rst
index 409cbef576d654be973dd6d1424ac40d3ea60982..af35221ad5dcd736190e40a454656a7fa069a787 100644
--- a/doc/ref_kernel.rst
+++ b/doc/ref_kernel.rst
@@ -151,6 +151,42 @@ Tag                             Meaning
 
 .. }}}
 
+Identifiers
+-----------
+
+Reserved Identifiers
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+The identifier prefix ``_lp_`` is reserved for internal usage; when creating
+*inames*, *argument names*, *temporary variable names*, *substitution rule
+names*, *instruction IDs*, and other identifiers, users should *not* use names
+beginning with ``_lp_``.  This prefix is used for identifiers created
+internally when operating on Loopy's kernel IR. For Loopy developers, further
+information on name prefixes used within submodules is below.
+
+Identifier Registry
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Functionality in :mod:`loopy` *must* use identifiers beginning with ``_lp_`` for
+all internally-created identifiers. Additionally, each name beginning with
+``_lp_`` must start with one of the reserved prefixes below. New prefixes may
+be registered by adding them to the table below. New prefixes may not themselves
+be the prefix of an existing prefix.
+
+**Reserved Identifier Prefixes**
+
+======================= ==================================
+Reserved Prefix         Usage (module or purpose)
+======================= ==================================
+``_lp_linchk_``         :mod:`loopy.linearization.checker`
+======================= ==================================
+
+.. note::
+
+    Existing Loopy code may not yet fully satisfy these naming requirements.
+    Name changes are in progress, and prefixes will be added to this registry
+    as they are created.
+
 .. _instructions:
 
 Instructions
diff --git a/loopy/target/pyopencl.py b/loopy/target/pyopencl.py
index 826ba2a8f09b8a19d19200ef6d936a8276cf3688..845e0a4326dbb24e509f98c808a9ce3ac3cb52be 100644
--- a/loopy/target/pyopencl.py
+++ b/loopy/target/pyopencl.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+# coding: utf-8
 """OpenCL target integrated with PyOpenCL."""
 
 from __future__ import division, absolute_import
@@ -285,6 +286,9 @@ class PyOpenCLTarget(OpenCLTarget):
     warnings) and support for complex numbers.
     """
 
+    # FIXME make prefixes conform to naming rules
+    # (see Reference: Loopy’s Model of a Kernel)
+
     host_program_name_prefix = "_lpy_host_"
     host_program_name_suffix = ""