diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ref/pg_basebackup.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ref/pg_basebackup.sgml
index 7f1a608bd94c6..00236d2fb7276 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ref/pg_basebackup.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ref/pg_basebackup.sgml
@@ -361,7 +361,7 @@ PostgreSQL documentation
       <term><option>--checkpoint=<replaceable class="parameter">fast|spread</replaceable></option></term>
       <listitem>
        <para>
-        Sets checkpoint mode to fast or spread (default) (see <xref linkend="backup-lowlevel-base-backup">).
+        Sets checkpoint mode to fast (immediate) or spread (default) (see <xref linkend="backup-lowlevel-base-backup">).
        </para>
       </listitem>
      </varlistentry>
@@ -568,6 +568,14 @@ PostgreSQL documentation
  <refsect1>
   <title>Notes</title>
 
+  <para>
+   At the beginning of the backup, a checkpoint needs to be written on the
+   server the backup is taken from.  Especially if the option
+   <literal>--checkpoint=fast</literal> is not used, this can take some time
+   during which <application>pg_basebackup</application> will be appear
+   to be idle.
+  </para>
+
   <para>
    The backup will include all files in the data directory and tablespaces,
    including the configuration files and any additional files placed in the
diff --git a/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_basebackup.c b/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_basebackup.c
index ad0631f530769..2805da5fa7b41 100644
--- a/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_basebackup.c
+++ b/src/bin/pg_basebackup/pg_basebackup.c
@@ -1655,6 +1655,14 @@ BaseBackup(void)
 	if (maxrate > 0)
 		maxrate_clause = psprintf("MAX_RATE %u", maxrate);
 
+	if (verbose)
+		fprintf(stderr,
+				_("%s: initiating base backup, waiting for checkpoint to complete\n"),
+				progname);
+
+	if (showprogress && !verbose)
+		fprintf(stderr, "waiting for checkpoint\r");
+
 	basebkp =
 		psprintf("BASE_BACKUP LABEL '%s' %s %s %s %s %s",
 				 escaped_label,
@@ -1691,6 +1699,9 @@ BaseBackup(void)
 
 	strlcpy(xlogstart, PQgetvalue(res, 0, 0), sizeof(xlogstart));
 
+	if (verbose)
+		fprintf(stderr, _("%s: checkpoint completed\n"), progname);
+
 	/*
 	 * 9.3 and later sends the TLI of the starting point. With older servers,
 	 * assume it's the same as the latest timeline reported by