diff --git a/zuul/model.py b/zuul/model.py
index 056f41d9bb..3b5a1a5cf5 100644
--- a/zuul/model.py
+++ b/zuul/model.py
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ class Pipeline(object):
             ret['item_ahead'] = None
         ret['items_behind'] = [i.change._id() for i in item.items_behind]
         ret['failing_reasons'] = item.current_build_set.failing_reasons
+        ret['zuul_ref'] = item.current_build_set.ref
         ret['project'] = changeish.project.name
         ret['enqueue_time'] = int(item.enqueue_time * 1000)
         ret['jobs'] = []
diff --git a/zuul/scheduler.py b/zuul/scheduler.py
index 46897bdb8b..8b6c20c874 100644
--- a/zuul/scheduler.py
+++ b/zuul/scheduler.py
@@ -998,7 +998,7 @@ class BasePipelineManager(object):
                 self.cancelJobs(item)
             self.prepareRef(item)
             if item.current_build_set.unable_to_merge:
-                failing_reasons.append("merge conflict")
+                failing_reasons.append("it has a merge conflict")
         if self.launchJobs(item):
             changed = True
         if self.pipeline.didAnyJobFail(item):
@@ -1007,7 +1007,7 @@ class BasePipelineManager(object):
             try:
                 self.reportItem(item)
             except MergeFailure:
-                failing_reasons.append("did not merge")
+                failing_reasons.append("it did not merge")
                 for item_behind in item.items_behind:
                     self.log.info("Resetting builds for change %s because the "
                                   "item ahead, %s, failed to merge" %