diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py b/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py
index f5e6de14..e09053b0 100644
--- a/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py
@@ -261,6 +261,9 @@ More info at https://github.com/odoo/odoo/wiki/Mergebot#forward-port
         with prod:
             prod.post_status(pr1.head, st, ctx)
         env.run_crons()
+    with prod: # should be ignored because the description doesn't matter
+        prod.post_status(pr1.head, 'failure', 'ci/runbot', description="HAHAHAHAHA")
+    env.run_crons()
     # check that FP did not resume & we have a ping on the PR
     assert env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([], order='number') == pr0 | pr1,\
         "forward port should not continue on CI failure"
diff --git a/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py b/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py
index 05e34870..d17c12b5 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ def handle_pr(env, event):
 
 def handle_status(env, event):
     _logger.info(
-        'status %(context)s:%(state)s on commit %(sha)s (%(target_url)s)',
+        'status on %(sha)s %(context)s:%(state)s (%(target_url)s) [%(description)r]',
         event
     )
     Commits = env['runbot_merge.commit']
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
index 66f6d635..316882d1 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
@@ -879,10 +879,19 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
         # only sending notification if the newly failed status is different than
         # the old one
         prev = json.loads(self.previous_failure)
-        if st != prev:
+        if not self._statuses_equivalent(st, prev):
             self.previous_failure = json.dumps(st)
             self._notify_ci_failed(ci)
 
+    def _statuses_equivalent(self, a, b):
+        """ Check if two statuses are *equivalent* meaning the description field
+        is ignored (check only state and target_url). This is because the
+        description seems to vary even if the rest does not, and generates
+        unnecessary notififcations as a result
+        """
+        return a.get('state') == b.get('state') \
+           and a.get('target_url')  == b.get('target_url')
+
     def _notify_ci_failed(self, ci):
         # only report an issue of the PR is already approved (r+'d)
         if self.state == 'approved':