diff --git a/admin/tool/task/classes/check/cronrunning.php b/admin/tool/task/classes/check/cronrunning.php
index 2efcee17950..f9005fa9db1 100644
--- a/admin/tool/task/classes/check/cronrunning.php
+++ b/admin/tool/task/classes/check/cronrunning.php
@@ -71,7 +71,8 @@ class cronrunning extends check {
         $formatexpected = format_time($expectedfrequency);
         $formatinterval = format_time($lastcroninterval);
 
-        $details = format_time($delta);
+        // Inform user the time since last cron start.
+        $details = get_string('lastcronstart', 'tool_task', $formatdelta);
 
         if ($delta > $expectedfrequency + MINSECS) {
             $status = result::WARNING;
diff --git a/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php b/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php
index 8532fff3580..884a1065834 100644
--- a/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php
+++ b/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ $string['enablerunnow_desc'] = 'Allows administrators to run a single scheduled
 $string['faildelay'] = 'Fail delay';
 $string['fromcomponent'] = 'From component: {$a}';
 $string['hostname'] = 'Host name';
+$string['lastcronstart'] = 'Time since last cron run: {$a}';
 $string['lastruntime'] = 'Last run';
 $string['lastupdated'] = 'Last updated {$a}.';
 $string['nextruntime'] = 'Next run';