diff --git a/cli/src/commands/git/push.rs b/cli/src/commands/git/push.rs
index d3608bf86f8..527f0db2a7e 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/git/push.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/git/push.rs
@@ -402,15 +402,35 @@ fn validate_commits_ready_to_push(
         if commit.has_conflict()? {
             reasons.push("it has conflicts");
         }
-        if !args.allow_private && is_private(commit.id())? {
+        let is_private = is_private(commit.id())?;
+        if !args.allow_private && is_private {
             reasons.push("it is private");
         }
         if !reasons.is_empty() {
-            return Err(user_error(format!(
+            let short = short_commit_hash(commit.id());
+            let mut error = user_error(format!(
                 "Won't push commit {} since {}",
-                short_commit_hash(commit.id()),
+                short,
                 reasons.join(" and ")
-            )));
+            ));
+            if !args.allow_private && is_private {
+                error.add_formatted_hint_with(|formatter| {
+                    write!(formatter, "Private commit {short}: ")?;
+                    workspace_helper.write_commit_summary(formatter, &commit)?;
+                    Ok(())
+                });
+                error.add_formatted_hint_with(|formatter| {
+                    write!(
+                        formatter,
+                        "Configured git.private-commits: '{}'",
+                        settings
+                            .get_string("git.private-commits")
+                            .expect("should have private-commits setting")
+                    )?;
+                    Ok(())
+                });
+            }
+            return Err(error);
         }
     }
     Ok(())
diff --git a/cli/tests/test_git_private_commits.rs b/cli/tests/test_git_private_commits.rs
index fadd5ca05b5..44657d8e206 100644
--- a/cli/tests/test_git_private_commits.rs
+++ b/cli/tests/test_git_private_commits.rs
@@ -88,9 +88,11 @@ fn test_git_private_commits_block_pushing() {
     // Will not push when a pushed commit is contained in git.private-commits
     test_env.add_config(r#"git.private-commits = "description(glob:'private*')""#);
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&workspace_root, &["git", "push", "--all"]);
-    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r"
     Error: Won't push commit aa3058ff8663 since it is private
-    "###);
+    Hint: Private commit aa3058ff8663: yqosqzyt aa3058ff main* | (empty) private 1
+    Hint: Configured git.private-commits: 'description(glob:'private*')'
+    ");
 
     // May push when the commit is removed from git.private-commits
     test_env.add_config(r#"git.private-commits = "none()""#);
@@ -114,9 +116,11 @@ fn test_git_private_commits_can_be_overridden() {
     // Will not push when a pushed commit is contained in git.private-commits
     test_env.add_config(r#"git.private-commits = "description(glob:'private*')""#);
     let stderr = test_env.jj_cmd_failure(&workspace_root, &["git", "push", "--all"]);
-    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r"
     Error: Won't push commit aa3058ff8663 since it is private
-    "###);
+    Hint: Private commit aa3058ff8663: yqosqzyt aa3058ff main* | (empty) private 1
+    Hint: Configured git.private-commits: 'description(glob:'private*')'
+    ");
 
     // May push when the commit is removed from git.private-commits
     let (_, stderr) = test_env.jj_cmd_ok(
@@ -166,9 +170,11 @@ fn test_git_private_commits_not_directly_in_line_block_pushing() {
         &workspace_root,
         &["git", "push", "--allow-new", "-b=bookmark1"],
     );
-    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r"
     Error: Won't push commit f1253a9b1ea9 since it is private
-    "###);
+    Hint: Private commit f1253a9b1ea9: yqosqzyt f1253a9b (empty) private 1
+    Hint: Configured git.private-commits: 'description(glob:'private*')'
+    ");
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -270,7 +276,9 @@ fn test_git_private_commits_are_evaluated_separately_for_each_remote() {
         &workspace_root,
         &["git", "push", "--remote=other", "-b=main"],
     );
-    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r###"
+    insta::assert_snapshot!(stderr, @r"
     Error: Won't push commit 36b7ecd11ad9 since it is private
-    "###);
+    Hint: Private commit 36b7ecd11ad9: znkkpsqq 36b7ecd1 (empty) private 1
+    Hint: Configured git.private-commits: 'description(glob:'private*')'
+    ");
 }