diff --git a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
index 498849f437..780e2ec766 100644
--- a/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
+++ b/cmd/minikube/cmd/start.go
@@ -371,6 +371,7 @@ func runStart(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 					ControlPlane:      false,
 					KubernetesVersion: cc.KubernetesConfig.KubernetesVersion,
 				}
+				out.Ln("") // extra newline for clarity on the command line
 				err := node.Add(&cc, n)
 				if err != nil {
 					exit.WithError("adding node", err)
diff --git a/pkg/minikube/node/start.go b/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
index 44ff9bb1cc..0945a32ddd 100644
--- a/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
+++ b/pkg/minikube/node/start.go
@@ -66,6 +66,14 @@ const (
 
 // Start spins up a guest and starts the kubernetes node.
 func Start(cc config.ClusterConfig, n config.Node, existingAddons map[string]bool, apiServer bool) *kubeconfig.Settings {
+
+	cp := ""
+	if apiServer {
+		cp = "control plane "
+	}
+
+	out.T(out.ThumbsUp, "Starting {{.controlPlane}}node {{.name}} in cluster {{.cluster}}", out.V{"controlPlane": cp, "name": n.Name, "cluster": cc.Name})
+
 	var kicGroup errgroup.Group
 	if driver.IsKIC(cc.Driver) {
 		beginDownloadKicArtifacts(&kicGroup)