diff --git a/builtin-branch.c b/builtin-branch.c
index 14d4b917e5..07a440eeba 100644
--- a/builtin-branch.c
+++ b/builtin-branch.c
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ static int delete_branches(int argc, const char **argv, int force, int kinds)
 			ret = 1;
 		} else {
 			struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
-			printf("Deleted %sbranch %s (%s).\n", remote,
+			printf("Deleted %sbranch %s (was %s).\n", remote,
 			       bname.buf,
 			       find_unique_abbrev(sha1, DEFAULT_ABBREV));
 			strbuf_addf(&buf, "branch.%s", bname.buf);
diff --git a/t/t3200-branch.sh b/t/t3200-branch.sh
index f82bcdbd46..d59a9b4aef 100755
--- a/t/t3200-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t3200-branch.sh
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ test_expect_success 'test deleting branch deletes branch config' \
 test_expect_success 'test deleting branch without config' \
     'git branch my7 s &&
      sha1=$(git rev-parse my7 | cut -c 1-7) &&
-     test "$(git branch -d my7 2>&1)" = "Deleted branch my7 ($sha1)."'
+     test "$(git branch -d my7 2>&1)" = "Deleted branch my7 (was $sha1)."'
 
 test_expect_success 'test --track without .fetch entries' \
     'git branch --track my8 &&