diff --git a/src/Propellor/Engine.hs b/src/Propellor/Engine.hs
index 773e234..1fba6a2 100644
--- a/src/Propellor/Engine.hs
+++ b/src/Propellor/Engine.hs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ ensureProperties ps = ensure ps NoChange
 	ensure [] rs = return rs
 	ensure (l:ls) rs = do
 		hn <- getHostName
-		r <- actionMessage (hn ++ " " ++ propertyDesc l) (ensureProperty l)
+		r <- actionMessageOn hn (propertyDesc l) (ensureProperty l)
 		ensure ls (r <> rs)
 
 ensureProperty :: Property -> Propellor Result
diff --git a/src/Propellor/Message.hs b/src/Propellor/Message.hs
index 780471c..afbed1c 100644
--- a/src/Propellor/Message.hs
+++ b/src/Propellor/Message.hs
@@ -12,7 +12,15 @@ import Propellor.Types
 -- | Shows a message while performing an action, with a colored status
 -- display.
 actionMessage :: (MonadIO m, ActionResult r) => Desc -> m r -> m r
-actionMessage desc a = do
+actionMessage = actionMessage' Nothing
+
+-- | Shows a message while performing an action on a specified host,
+-- with a colored status display.
+actionMessageOn :: (MonadIO m, ActionResult r) => HostName -> Desc -> m r -> m r
+actionMessageOn = actionMessage' . Just
+
+actionMessage' :: (MonadIO m, ActionResult r) => Maybe HostName -> Desc -> m r -> m r
+actionMessage' mhn desc a = do
 	liftIO $ do
 		setTitle $ "propellor: " ++ desc
 		hFlush stdout
@@ -21,12 +29,19 @@ actionMessage desc a = do
 
 	liftIO $ do
 		setTitle "propellor: running"
-		let (msg, intensity, color) = getActionResult r
+		showhn mhn
 		putStr $ desc ++ " ... "
+		let (msg, intensity, color) = getActionResult r
 		colorLine intensity color msg
 		hFlush stdout
 
 	return r
+  where
+	showhn Nothing = return ()
+	showhn (Just hn) = do
+		setSGR [SetColor Foreground Dull Cyan]
+		putStr (hn ++ " ")
+		setSGR []
 
 warningMessage :: MonadIO m => String -> m ()
 warningMessage s = liftIO $ colorLine Vivid Magenta $ "** warning: " ++ s