diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go b/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go
index 7ed2922166..add89dd2f1 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ func (obj alertAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj alertAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Alert.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.Alert.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.Alert.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.Alert.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Alert.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go b/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go
index 6acbd2b3e0..cd475d030f 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.HelmRelease.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.HelmRelease.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.HelmRelease.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.HelmRelease.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.HelmRelease.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go b/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go
index b1e493642a..add2a17285 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.ImageRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.ImageRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.ImageRepository.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.ImageRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.ImageRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go b/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go
index d0131c988c..561df49032 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ func init() {
 
 func (obj imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go b/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go
index ab8ed7dc21..151801263a 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go
@@ -51,10 +51,7 @@ func (obj kustomizationAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 }
 
 func (obj kustomizationAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
-	obj.Kustomization.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.Kustomization.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.Kustomization.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
-	}
+	delete(obj.Kustomization.Annotations, Suspended)
 }
 
 func (obj kustomizationAdapter) successMessage() string {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go b/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go
index 1659c6bf27..c13c25f976 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ func (obj receiverAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj receiverAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Receiver.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.Receiver.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.Receiver.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.Receiver.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Receiver.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go
index de0ec2b652..dd2ba4dae5 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func (obj bucketAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj bucketAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Bucket.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.Bucket.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.Bucket.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.Bucket.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Bucket.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go
index beb3ed974e..245c344531 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ func (obj helmChartAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj helmChartAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.HelmChart.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.HelmChart.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.HelmChart.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.HelmChart.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.HelmChart.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go
index 23289870d1..120a09374c 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.GitRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.GitRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.GitRepository.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.GitRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.GitRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go
index 54531cb81d..7d10aed53c 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.HelmRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.HelmRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.HelmRepository.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.HelmRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.HelmRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go
index db40ec0558..b724feb62d 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.OCIRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
-	if _, ok := obj.OCIRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation]; ok {
-		delete(obj.OCIRepository.Annotations, SuspendReasonAnnotation)
+	if _, ok := obj.OCIRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.OCIRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend.go b/cmd/flux/suspend.go
index 54b45fef2f..ad4d745bac 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend.go
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ var suspendCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 type SuspendFlags struct {
-	all    bool
-	reason string
+	all     bool
+	message string
 }
 
 var suspendArgs SuspendFlags
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ var suspendArgs SuspendFlags
 func init() {
 	suspendCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&suspendArgs.all, "all", "", false,
 		"suspend all resources in that namespace")
-	suspendCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&suspendArgs.reason, "reason", "r", "",
-		"set a reason for why the resource is suspended, the reason will show up under the suspend.toolkit.fluxcd.io/reason annotation")
+	suspendCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&suspendArgs.message, "message", "m", "",
+		"set a message for the resource being suspended (stored in the suspend.toolkit.fluxcd.io/message annotation)")
 	rootCmd.AddCommand(suspendCmd)
 }
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ type suspendable interface {
 	adapter
 	copyable
 	isSuspended() bool
-	setSuspended(reason string)
+	setSuspended(message string)
 }
 
 type suspendCommand struct {
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func (suspend suspendCommand) patch(ctx context.Context, kubeClient client.WithW
 
 		obj := suspend.list.item(i)
 		patch := client.MergeFrom(obj.deepCopyClientObject())
-		obj.setSuspended(suspendArgs.reason)
+		obj.setSuspended(suspendArgs.message)
 		if err := kubeClient.Patch(ctx, obj.asClientObject(), patch); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -144,5 +144,5 @@ func (suspend suspendCommand) patch(ctx context.Context, kubeClient client.WithW
 	return nil
 }
 
-// SuspendReasonAnnotation is the metadata key used to store the reason for resource suspension
-const SuspendReasonAnnotation string = "suspend.toolkit.fluxcd.io/reason"
+// SuspendMessageAnnotation is the metadata key used to store a message related to resource suspension
+const SuspendMessageAnnotation string = "suspend.toolkit.fluxcd.io/message"
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_alert.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_alert.go
index be750c9f9f..c0251d5453 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_alert.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_alert.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj alertAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Alert.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj alertAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj alertAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Alert.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.Alert.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Alert.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go
index 8bfd373198..5675da7984 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@ func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.HelmRelease.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.HelmRelease.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.HelmRelease.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.HelmRelease.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go
index 83cdd127dd..56b2a775e5 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.ImageRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.ImageRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.ImageRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.ImageRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go
index 89295b5b8c..bde79667cb 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (update imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (update imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (update imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go
index b0ec1b8b31..74bd78d5dd 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go
@@ -48,10 +48,10 @@ func (obj kustomizationAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Kustomization.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj kustomizationAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj kustomizationAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Kustomization.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.Kustomization.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Kustomization.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go
index 57ceb1d022..445c5ac785 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj receiverAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Receiver.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj receiverAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj receiverAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Receiver.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.Receiver.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Receiver.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go
index 55eef2c469..afd963ab27 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj bucketAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Bucket.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj bucketAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj bucketAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Bucket.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.Bucket.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Bucket.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go
index f8d471edbf..64a3005e6f 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj helmChartAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.HelmChart.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj helmChartAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj helmChartAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.HelmChart.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.HelmChart.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.HelmChart.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go
index f379ab8ea5..a60164d79f 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.GitRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.GitRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.GitRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.GitRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go
index 56e883ed40..282ddd97bb 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.HelmRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.HelmRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.HelmRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.HelmRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go
index 07fa2a4f5e..acf0057bde 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go
@@ -47,10 +47,10 @@ func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.OCIRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(reason string) {
+func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.OCIRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
-	if reason != "" {
-		obj.OCIRepository.Annotations[SuspendReasonAnnotation] = reason
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.OCIRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
 	}
 }