diff --git a/cherry_picker/cherry_picker.py b/cherry_picker/cherry_picker.py
index a71a1ac..61919af 100755
--- a/cherry_picker/cherry_picker.py
+++ b/cherry_picker/cherry_picker.py
@@ -516,6 +516,12 @@ def cleanup_branch(self, branch):
             print(f"branch {branch} NOT deleted.")
             set_state(WORKFLOW_STATES.REMOVING_BACKPORT_BRANCH_FAILED)
             return
+        # Remember where the branch points so that the user can restore it,
+        # for example if pushing it failed and manual work would be lost.
+        try:
+            branch_sha = get_sha1_from(branch)
+        except ValueError:
+            branch_sha = None
         try:
             self.delete_branch(branch)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
@@ -523,6 +529,9 @@ def cleanup_branch(self, branch):
             set_state(WORKFLOW_STATES.REMOVING_BACKPORT_BRANCH_FAILED)
         else:
             print(f"branch {branch} has been deleted.")
+            if branch_sha:
+                print("To restore it, run:")
+                print(f"git branch {branch} {branch_sha}")
             set_state(WORKFLOW_STATES.REMOVED_BACKPORT_BRANCH)
 
     def unset_upstream(self, branch):
diff --git a/cherry_picker/test_cherry_picker.py b/cherry_picker/test_cherry_picker.py
index 35e8e14..a72f1a4 100644
--- a/cherry_picker/test_cherry_picker.py
+++ b/cherry_picker/test_cherry_picker.py
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ def _fetch(cmd, *args, **kwargs):
     assert get_state() == end_state
 
 
-def test_cleanup_branch(tmp_git_repo_dir, git_checkout):
+def test_cleanup_branch(tmp_git_repo_dir, git_checkout, capsys):
     assert get_state() == WORKFLOW_STATES.UNSET
 
     with mock.patch("cherry_picker.cherry_picker.validate_sha", return_value=True):
@@ -846,9 +846,13 @@ def test_cleanup_branch(tmp_git_repo_dir, git_checkout):
     assert get_state() == WORKFLOW_STATES.UNSET
 
     git_checkout("-b", "some_branch")
+    branch_sha = get_sha1_from("some_branch")
     cherry_picker.cleanup_branch("some_branch")
     assert get_state() == WORKFLOW_STATES.REMOVED_BACKPORT_BRANCH
     assert get_current_branch() == "main"
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "branch some_branch has been deleted." in out
+    assert f"To restore it, run:\ngit branch some_branch {branch_sha}\n" in out
 
 
 def test_cleanup_branch_checkout_previous_branch(
@@ -868,7 +872,7 @@ def test_cleanup_branch_checkout_previous_branch(
     assert get_current_branch() == "previous_branch"
 
 
-def test_cleanup_branch_fail(tmp_git_repo_dir):
+def test_cleanup_branch_fail(tmp_git_repo_dir, capsys):
     assert get_state() == WORKFLOW_STATES.UNSET
 
     with mock.patch("cherry_picker.cherry_picker.validate_sha", return_value=True):
@@ -877,6 +881,9 @@ def test_cleanup_branch_fail(tmp_git_repo_dir):
 
     cherry_picker.cleanup_branch("some_branch")
     assert get_state() == WORKFLOW_STATES.REMOVING_BACKPORT_BRANCH_FAILED
+    out = capsys.readouterr().out
+    assert "branch some_branch NOT deleted." in out
+    assert "To restore it" not in out
 
 
 def test_cleanup_branch_checkout_fail(