diff --git a/t/t7512-status-help.sh b/t/t7512-status-help.sh
index 68ad2d7454..190656dc7e 100755
--- a/t/t7512-status-help.sh
+++ b/t/t7512-status-help.sh
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status during rebase -i when conflicts unresolved' '
 	ONTO=$(git rev-parse --short rebase_i_conflicts) &&
 	test_must_fail git rebase -i rebase_i_conflicts &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_conflicts_second'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (fix conflicts and then run "git rebase --continue")
   (use "git rebase --skip" to skip this patch)
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status during rebase -i after resolving conflicts' '
 	test_must_fail git rebase -i rebase_i_conflicts &&
 	git add main.txt &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_conflicts_second'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (all conflicts fixed: run "git rebase --continue")
 
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status when rebasing -i in edit mode' '
 	ONTO=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD~2) &&
 	git rebase -i HEAD~2 &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''rebase_i_edit'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status when splitting a commit' '
 	git rebase -i HEAD~3 &&
 	git reset HEAD^ &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''split_commit'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
 
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status after editing the last commit with --amend during a
 	git rebase -i HEAD~3 &&
 	git commit --amend -m "foo" &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''amend_last'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit' '
 	git rebase -i HEAD~3 &&
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit and split' '
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	git reset HEAD^ &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
 
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (continue first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	git commit --amend -m "foo" &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -348,7 +348,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit' '
 	git commit --amend -m "a" &&
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit and split' '
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	git reset HEAD^ &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
 
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (amend first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	git commit --amend -m "d" &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit' '
 	git commit -m "e" &&
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit and split' '
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	git reset HEAD^ &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently splitting a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (Once your working directory is clean, run "git rebase --continue")
 
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@ test_expect_success 'status: (split first edit) second edit and amend' '
 	git rebase --continue &&
 	git commit --amend -m "h" &&
 	cat >expected <<EOF &&
-rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
+interactive rebase in progress; onto $ONTO
 You are currently editing a commit while rebasing branch '\''several_edits'\'' on '\''$ONTO'\''.
   (use "git commit --amend" to amend the current commit)
   (use "git rebase --continue" once you are satisfied with your changes)
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 9e0559c0c8..d2c5c7d41a 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -1327,7 +1327,10 @@ void wt_status_print(struct wt_status *s)
 		else if (!strcmp(branch_name, "HEAD")) {
 			branch_status_color = color(WT_STATUS_NOBRANCH, s);
 			if (state.rebase_in_progress || state.rebase_interactive_in_progress) {
-				on_what = _("rebase in progress; onto ");
+				if (state.rebase_interactive_in_progress)
+					on_what = _("interactive rebase in progress; onto ");
+				else
+					on_what = _("rebase in progress; onto ");
 				branch_name = state.onto;
 			} else if (state.detached_from) {
 				branch_name = state.detached_from;