diff --git a/doc/source/zuul.rst b/doc/source/zuul.rst
index 55e020138e..0c4d076a76 100644
--- a/doc/source/zuul.rst
+++ b/doc/source/zuul.rst
@@ -170,6 +170,16 @@ explanation of each of the parameters::
   This is an optional field that may be used to provide a textual
   description of the pipeline.
 
+**success-message**
+  An optional field that supplies the introductory text in message
+  reported back to Gerrit when all the voting builds are successful.
+  Defaults to "Build successful."
+
+**failure-message**
+  An optional field that supplies the introductory text in message
+  reported back to Gerrit when at least one voting build fails.
+  Defaults to "Build failed."
+
 **manager**
   There are currently two schemes for managing pipelines:
 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/layout.yaml b/tests/fixtures/layout.yaml
index cfe68fc3b5..586e2a5841 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/layout.yaml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/layout.yaml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ pipelines:
 
   - name: gate
     manager: DependentPipelineManager
+    failure-message: Build failed.  For information on how to proceed, see http://wiki.example.org/Test_Failures
     trigger:
       - event: comment-added
         approval: 
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/layouts/good_layout.yaml b/tests/fixtures/layouts/good_layout.yaml
index ca024ec129..112d2a601d 100644
--- a/tests/fixtures/layouts/good_layout.yaml
+++ b/tests/fixtures/layouts/good_layout.yaml
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ pipelines:
 
   - name: gate
     manager: DependentPipelineManager
+    success-message: Your change is awesome.
+    failure-message: Build failed.  For information on how to proceed, see http://wiki.example.org/Test_Failures
     trigger:
       - event: comment-added
         approval:
diff --git a/zuul/layoutvalidator.py b/zuul/layoutvalidator.py
index eac394e1de..8d2177343d 100644
--- a/zuul/layoutvalidator.py
+++ b/zuul/layoutvalidator.py
@@ -45,6 +45,8 @@ class LayoutSchema(object):
     pipeline = {v.required('name'): str,
                 v.required('manager'): manager,
                 'description': str,
+                'success-message': str,
+                'failure-message': str,
                 'trigger': toList(trigger),
                 'success': variable_dict,
                 'failure': variable_dict,
diff --git a/zuul/model.py b/zuul/model.py
index a7c7f0d785..acefef6d88 100644
--- a/zuul/model.py
+++ b/zuul/model.py
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ class Pipeline(object):
     def __init__(self, name):
         self.name = name
         self.description = None
+        self.failure_message = None
+        self.success_message = None
         self.job_trees = {}  # project -> JobTree
         self.manager = None
         self.queues = []
diff --git a/zuul/scheduler.py b/zuul/scheduler.py
index 86e78a8982..450febda02 100644
--- a/zuul/scheduler.py
+++ b/zuul/scheduler.py
@@ -96,6 +96,10 @@ class Scheduler(threading.Thread):
         for conf_pipeline in data.get('pipelines', []):
             pipeline = Pipeline(conf_pipeline['name'])
             pipeline.description = conf_pipeline.get('description')
+            pipeline.failure_message = conf_pipeline.get('failure-message',
+                                                         "Build failed.")
+            pipeline.success_message = conf_pipeline.get('success-message',
+                                                         "Build succeeded.")
             manager = globals()[conf_pipeline['manager']](self, pipeline)
             pipeline.setManager(manager)
 
@@ -759,9 +763,9 @@ class BasePipelineManager(object):
     def formatReport(self, changeish):
         ret = ''
         if self.pipeline.didAllJobsSucceed(changeish):
-            ret += 'Build successful\n\n'
+            ret += self.pipeline.success_message + '\n\n'
         else:
-            ret += 'Build failed\n\n'
+            ret += self.pipeline.failure_message + '\n\n'
 
         if changeish.dequeued_needing_change:
             ret += "This change depends on a change that failed to merge."