diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/SSghost_spawns.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/SSghost_spawns.dm
index 05cd2567f44..25415b6ab61 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/SSghost_spawns.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/SSghost_spawns.dm
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(ghost_spawns)
   * * source - The atom, atom prototype, icon or mutable appearance to display as an icon in the alert
   * * role_cleanname - The name override to display to clients
   */
-/datum/controller/subsystem/ghost_spawns/proc/poll_candidates(question = "Would you like to play a special role?", role, antag_age_check = FALSE, poll_time = 30 SECONDS, ignore_respawnability = FALSE, min_hours = 0, flash_window = TRUE, check_antaghud = TRUE, source, role_cleanname)
+/datum/controller/subsystem/ghost_spawns/proc/poll_candidates(question = "Would you like to play a special role?", role, antag_age_check = FALSE, poll_time = 30 SECONDS, ignore_respawnability = FALSE, min_hours = 0, flash_window = TRUE, check_antaghud = TRUE, source, role_cleanname, reason)
 	log_debug("Polling candidates [role ? "for [role_cleanname || get_roletext(role)]" : "\"[question]\""] for [poll_time / 10] seconds")
 
 	// Start firing
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(ghost_spawns)
 		if(isatom(source))
 			act_jump = "<a href='?src=[M.UID()];jump=\ref[source]'>\[Teleport]</a>"
 		var/act_signup = "<a href='?src=[A.UID()];signup=1'>\[Sign Up]</a>"
-		to_chat(M, "<big><span class='boldnotice'>Now looking for candidates [role ? "to play as \an [role_cleanname || get_roletext(role)]" : "\"[question]\""]. [act_jump] [act_signup]</span></big>")
+		to_chat(M, "<big><span class='boldnotice'>Now looking for candidates [role ? "to play as \an [role_cleanname || get_roletext(role)]" : "\"[question]\""]. [act_jump] [act_signup] [reason ? "<i>\nReason: [sanitize(reason)]</i>" : ""]</span></big>")
 
 		// Start processing it so it updates visually the timer
 		START_PROCESSING(SSprocessing, A)
diff --git a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
index b2d11efbd68..5fc2fb6b8b8 100644
--- a/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
+++ b/code/modules/research/xenobiology/xenobiology.dm
@@ -228,11 +228,12 @@
 			explosion(T, -1, -1, 2, 3)
 		qdel(src)
 		return
+	var/reason_text = input(user, "Enter reason for giving sentience", "Reason for sentience potion", "") as null|text
 	to_chat(user, "<span class='notice'>You offer [src] sentience potion to [SM]...</span>")
 	being_used = TRUE
 
-	var/ghostmsg = "Play as [SM.name], pet of [user.name]?"
-	var/list/candidates = SSghost_spawns.poll_candidates(ghostmsg, ROLE_SENTIENT, FALSE, 10 SECONDS, source = M)
+	var/ghostmsg = "Play as [SM.name], pet of [user.name]?[reason_text ? "\nReason: [sanitize(reason_text)]\n" : ""]"
+	var/list/candidates = SSghost_spawns.poll_candidates(ghostmsg, ROLE_SENTIENT, FALSE, 10 SECONDS, source = M, reason = reason_text)
 
 	if(QDELETED(src) || QDELETED(SM))
 		return