diff --git a/git/hooks/forward-merge b/git/hooks/forward-merge
index 3ae02e10312..3aba7b61172 100755
--- a/git/hooks/forward-merge
+++ b/git/hooks/forward-merge
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def get_issue(repository, number)
   exit 1
 end
 
-def create_issue(username, password, repository, original, title, labels, milestone, dry_run)
+def create_issue(username, password, repository, original, title, labels, milestone, milestone_name, dry_run)
   uri = URI("https://api.github.com/repos/#{repository}/issues")
   http = Net::HTTP.new(uri.host, uri.port)
   http.use_ssl=true
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ def create_issue(username, password, repository, original, title, labels, milest
     title: title,
     labels: labels,
     milestone: milestone.to_i,
-    body: "See original issue ##{original}."
+    body: "Forward port of issue ##{original} to #{milestone_name}."
   }.to_json
   if dry_run then
     puts "Dry run"
@@ -76,12 +76,13 @@ repository = 'spring-projects/spring-boot'
 existing_issue = get_issue(repository, forward_merge.issue)
 title = existing_issue['title']
 labels = existing_issue['labels'].map { |label| label['name'] }
+labels << "status: forward-port"
 milestone = find_milestone(repository, forward_merge.milestone)
 config = YAML.load_file(File.join(Dir.home, '.spring-boot', 'forward-merge.yml'))
 username = config['github']['credentials']['username']
 password = config['github']['credentials']['password']
 dry_run = config['dry_run']
-new_issue_number = create_issue(username, password, repository, forward_merge.issue, title, labels, milestone, dry_run)
-puts "Created gh-#{new_issue_number} for forward merge of gh-#{forward_merge.issue} into #{forward_merge.milestone}"
+new_issue_number = create_issue(username, password, repository, forward_merge.issue, title, labels, milestone, forward_merge.milestone, dry_run)
+puts "Created gh-#{new_issue_number} for forward port of gh-#{forward_merge.issue} into #{forward_merge.milestone}"
 rewritten_message = forward_merge.message.sub(forward_merge.line, "Closes gh-#{new_issue_number}")
 File.write(message_file, rewritten_message)