diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go b/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go
index a33d4f5b..7bd3419e 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_alert.go
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ func (obj alertAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj alertAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Alert.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.Alert.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Alert.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (obj alertAdapter) successMessage() string {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go b/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go
index 6c320b30..d9bb57b3 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_helmrelease.go
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.HelmRelease.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.HelmRelease.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.HelmRelease.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) successMessage() string {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go b/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go
index a9ab36cd..add2a172 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_image_repository.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.ImageRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.ImageRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.ImageRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (a imageRepositoryListAdapter) resumeItem(i int) resumable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go b/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go
index 1b29cbaf..93ab2688 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_image_updateauto.go
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ func init() {
 
 func (obj imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (obj imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go b/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go
index a03aed62..23f231df 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_kustomization.go
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ func (obj kustomizationAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj kustomizationAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Kustomization.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.Kustomization.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Kustomization.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (obj kustomizationAdapter) successMessage() string {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go b/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go
index c99bd755..c13c25f9 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_receiver.go
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ func (obj receiverAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj receiverAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Receiver.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.Receiver.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Receiver.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (obj receiverAdapter) successMessage() string {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go
index 1de754eb..6e9aa44d 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_bucket.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func (obj bucketAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj bucketAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.Bucket.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.Bucket.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.Bucket.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (a bucketListAdapter) resumeItem(i int) resumable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go
index 9e7ec759..077ff65f 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_chart.go
@@ -50,6 +50,9 @@ func (obj helmChartAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj helmChartAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.HelmChart.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.HelmChart.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.HelmChart.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (obj helmChartAdapter) successMessage() string {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go
index 751714a4..120a0937 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_git.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.GitRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.GitRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.GitRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (a gitRepositoryListAdapter) resumeItem(i int) resumable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go
index b4cb1316..aa13757d 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_helm.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.HelmRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.HelmRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.HelmRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (a helmRepositoryListAdapter) resumeItem(i int) resumable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go b/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go
index 04b20a4b..b724feb6 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/resume_source_oci.go
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) getObservedGeneration() int64 {
 
 func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) setUnsuspended() {
 	obj.OCIRepository.Spec.Suspend = false
+	if _, ok := obj.OCIRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation]; ok {
+		delete(obj.OCIRepository.Annotations, SuspendMessageAnnotation)
+	}
 }
 
 func (a ociRepositoryListAdapter) resumeItem(i int) resumable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend.go b/cmd/flux/suspend.go
index e0023c7e..ad4d745b 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend.go
@@ -34,7 +34,8 @@ var suspendCmd = &cobra.Command{
 }
 
 type SuspendFlags struct {
-	all bool
+	all     bool
+	message string
 }
 
 var suspendArgs SuspendFlags
@@ -42,6 +43,8 @@ var suspendArgs SuspendFlags
 func init() {
 	suspendCmd.PersistentFlags().BoolVarP(&suspendArgs.all, "all", "", false,
 		"suspend all resources in that namespace")
+	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)
 }
 
@@ -49,7 +52,7 @@ type suspendable interface {
 	adapter
 	copyable
 	isSuspended() bool
-	setSuspended()
+	setSuspended(message string)
 }
 
 type suspendCommand struct {
@@ -130,7 +133,7 @@ func (suspend suspendCommand) patch(ctx context.Context, kubeClient client.WithW
 
 		obj := suspend.list.item(i)
 		patch := client.MergeFrom(obj.deepCopyClientObject())
-		obj.setSuspended()
+		obj.setSuspended(suspendArgs.message)
 		if err := kubeClient.Patch(ctx, obj.asClientObject(), patch); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -140,3 +143,6 @@ func (suspend suspendCommand) patch(ctx context.Context, kubeClient client.WithW
 
 	return nil
 }
+
+// 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 67fa201a..70a851d2 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_alert.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_alert.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj alertAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Alert.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj alertAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj alertAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Alert.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Alert.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a alertListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go
index 762e70eb..4d909dcf 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_helmrelease.go
@@ -48,8 +48,11 @@ func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.HelmRelease.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj helmReleaseAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.HelmRelease.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.HelmRelease.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a helmReleaseListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go
index c6e562d1..56b2a775 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_repository.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.ImageRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj imageRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.ImageRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.ImageRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a imageRepositoryListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go
index a1035117..88d75de2 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_image_updateauto.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (update imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (update imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (update imageUpdateAutomationAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		update.ImageUpdateAutomation.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a imageUpdateAutomationListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go
index ac6c72e1..74bd78d5 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_kustomization.go
@@ -48,8 +48,11 @@ func (obj kustomizationAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Kustomization.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj kustomizationAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj kustomizationAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Kustomization.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Kustomization.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a kustomizationListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go
index 7f2e6dd7..445c5ac7 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_receiver.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj receiverAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Receiver.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj receiverAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj receiverAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Receiver.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Receiver.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a receiverListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go
index 168d18a0..540f0f00 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_bucket.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj bucketAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.Bucket.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj bucketAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj bucketAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.Bucket.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.Bucket.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a bucketListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go
index 6da1d8c0..d3683802 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_chart.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj helmChartAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.HelmChart.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj helmChartAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj helmChartAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.HelmChart.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.HelmChart.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a helmChartListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go
index 4decf796..a60164d7 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_git.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.GitRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj gitRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.GitRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.GitRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a gitRepositoryListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go
index a59343bd..0815343c 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_helm.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.HelmRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj helmRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.HelmRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.HelmRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a helmRepositoryListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {
diff --git a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go
index 3b8e36d6..acf0057b 100644
--- a/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go
+++ b/cmd/flux/suspend_source_oci.go
@@ -47,8 +47,11 @@ func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) isSuspended() bool {
 	return obj.OCIRepository.Spec.Suspend
 }
 
-func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended() {
+func (obj ociRepositoryAdapter) setSuspended(message string) {
 	obj.OCIRepository.Spec.Suspend = true
+	if message != "" {
+		obj.OCIRepository.Annotations[SuspendMessageAnnotation] = message
+	}
 }
 
 func (a ociRepositoryListAdapter) item(i int) suspendable {