diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py b/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py
index dc3061f6a88..3468c31e531 100755
--- a/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/commands/commands.py
@@ -394,8 +394,10 @@ def thermocycler_deactivate():
     )
 
 
-def delay(seconds, minutes):
+def delay(seconds, minutes, msg=None):
     text = "Delaying for {minutes}m {seconds}s"
+    if msg:
+        text = f"{text}. {msg}"
     return make_command(
         name=command_types.DELAY,
         payload={
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/contexts.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/contexts.py
index 14531f0aeb4..f6e3f1792be 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/contexts.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/contexts.py
@@ -411,7 +411,7 @@ def comment(self, msg):
         pass
 
     @cmds.publish.both(command=cmds.delay)
-    def delay(self, seconds=0, minutes=0):
+    def delay(self, seconds=0, minutes=0, msg=None):
         """ Delay protocol execution for a specific amount of time.
 
         :param float seconds: A time to delay in seconds
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v1.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v1.py
index cfe118d84d1..6000cb01a83 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v1.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v1.py
@@ -170,13 +170,14 @@ def dispatch_json(context: ProtocolContext,  # noqa(C901)
 
         if command_type == 'delay':
             wait = params['wait']
+            message = params.get('message')
             if wait is None:
                 raise ValueError('Delay cannot be null')
             elif wait is True:
-                message = params.get('message', 'Pausing until user resumes')
+                message = message or 'Pausing until user resumes'
                 context.pause(msg=message)
             else:
-                context.delay(seconds=wait)
+                context.delay(seconds=wait, msg=message)
 
         elif command_type == 'blowout':
             well = _get_well(loaded_labware, params)
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v3.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v3.py
index 16a9fd72e18..3f0604904d9 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v3.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocol_api/execute_v3.py
@@ -85,13 +85,14 @@ def _get_location_with_offset(loaded_labware: Dict[str, labware.Labware],
 def _delay(
         context, protocol_data, instruments, loaded_labware, params) -> None:
     wait = params['wait']
+    message = params.get('message')
     if wait is None or wait is False:
         raise ValueError('Delay must be true, or a number')
     elif wait is True:
-        message = params.get('message', 'Pausing until user resumes')
+        message = message or 'Pausing until user resumes'
         context.pause(msg=message)
     else:
-        context.delay(seconds=wait)
+        context.delay(seconds=wait, msg=message)
 
 
 def _blowout(
diff --git a/api/src/opentrons/protocols/__init__.py b/api/src/opentrons/protocols/__init__.py
index 58ac67c7174..c3cb8cfb5f5 100644
--- a/api/src/opentrons/protocols/__init__.py
+++ b/api/src/opentrons/protocols/__init__.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 from numpy import add
 import time
+import datetime
 from itertools import chain
 from opentrons import instruments, labware, robot
 
@@ -175,12 +176,17 @@ def dispatch_commands(protocol_data, loaded_pipettes, loaded_labware):  # noqa:
 
         if command_type == 'delay':
             wait = params.get('wait')
+            message = params.get('message')
             if wait is None:
                 raise ValueError('Delay cannot be null')
             elif wait is True:
-                message = params.get('message', 'Pausing until user resumes')
+                message = message or 'Pausing until user resumes'
                 robot.pause(msg=message)
             else:
+                text = f'Delaying for {datetime.timedelta(seconds=wait)}'
+                if message:
+                    text = f"{text}. {message}"
+                robot.comment(text)
                 _sleep(wait)
 
         elif command_type == 'blowout':
diff --git a/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v1.py b/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v1.py
index 8081a66969c..d31faff68c6 100644
--- a/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v1.py
+++ b/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v1.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def test_dispatch_commands(monkeypatch, loop):
     cmd = []
     flow_rates = []
 
-    def mock_sleep(minutes=0, seconds=0):
+    def mock_sleep(minutes=0, seconds=0, msg=None):
         cmd.append(("sleep", minutes * 60 + seconds))
 
     def mock_aspirate(volume, location):
diff --git a/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v3.py b/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v3.py
index e32852b0008..43fd190482d 100644
--- a/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v3.py
+++ b/api/tests/opentrons/protocol_api/test_execute_v3.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def test_dispatch_commands(monkeypatch, loop):
 
     ctx = ProtocolContext(loop=loop)
 
-    def mock_delay(seconds=0, minutes=0):
+    def mock_delay(seconds=0, minutes=0, msg=None):
         command_log.append(("delay", seconds + minutes * 60))
 
     monkeypatch.setattr(ctx, 'delay', mock_delay)