diff --git a/builtin/revert.c b/builtin/revert.c
index c3d64af02..74c1581fd 100644
--- a/builtin/revert.c
+++ b/builtin/revert.c
@@ -241,6 +241,15 @@ static void set_author_ident_env(const char *message)
 			sha1_to_hex(commit->object.sha1));
 }
 
+static void advise(const char *advice, ...)
+{
+	va_list params;
+
+	va_start(params, advice);
+	vreportf("hint: ", advice, params);
+	va_end(params);
+}
+
 static char *help_msg(void)
 {
 	struct strbuf helpbuf = STRBUF_INIT;