diff --git a/internal/cmd/status.go b/internal/cmd/status.go
index 64178ae9..b688bb34 100644
--- a/internal/cmd/status.go
+++ b/internal/cmd/status.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 package cmd
 
 import (
+	"context"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
@@ -146,11 +147,22 @@ sourcetool status myorg/myrepo@mybranch
 			}
 
 			fmt.Println()
+			policyNeedsUpdate := false
 			if policyControlStatus != nil {
 				fmt.Printf("%-35s  ", "Repo policy found:")
 				switch policyControlStatus.State {
 				case slsa.StateActive:
-					fmt.Println("✅")
+					fmt.Print("✅")
+					// Check if the policy needs updating
+					pcy, err := srctool.GetRepositoryPolicy(context.Background(), opts.GetRepository())
+					if err == nil {
+						pb := pcy.GetBranchPolicy(opts.GetBranch().Name)
+						if pb != nil && pb.GetTargetSlsaSourceLevel() != string(toplevel) {
+							fmt.Print(w2(fmt.Sprintf(" (needs update to %s)", toplevel)))
+							policyNeedsUpdate = true
+						}
+					}
+					fmt.Println()
 				case slsa.StateNotEnabled:
 					fmt.Println("🚫")
 				case slsa.StateInProgress:
@@ -188,6 +200,15 @@ sourcetool status myorg/myrepo@mybranch
 				fmt.Println()
 			}
 
+			if policyNeedsUpdate {
+				if !titled {
+					fmt.Println(w2("✨ Recommended actions:"))
+				}
+				fmt.Println(" - Update the repository source policy")
+				fmt.Printf("   > sourcetool policy create --update %s\n", opts.GetRepository().Path)
+				fmt.Println()
+			}
+
 			return nil
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/policy/policy.go b/pkg/policy/policy.go
index dd336412..3189fc98 100644
--- a/pkg/policy/policy.go
+++ b/pkg/policy/policy.go
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ const (
 )
 
 // Returns the policy for the branch or nil if the branch doesn't have one.
-func (rp *RepoPolicy) getBranchPolicy(branch string) *ProtectedBranch {
+func (rp *RepoPolicy) GetBranchPolicy(branch string) *ProtectedBranch {
+	branch = strings.TrimPrefix(branch, "refs/heads/")
 	for _, pb := range rp.GetProtectedBranches() {
 		if pb.GetName() == branch {
 			return pb
@@ -525,7 +526,7 @@ func (pe *PolicyEvaluator) EvaluateControl(ctx context.Context, repo *models.Rep
 		return slsa.SourceVerifiedLevels{}, "", err
 	}
 
-	branchPolicy := rp.getBranchPolicy(branch.Name)
+	branchPolicy := rp.GetBranchPolicy(branch.Name)
 	if branchPolicy == nil {
 		branchPolicy = createDefaultBranchPolicy(branch)
 		policyPath = "DEFAULT"
@@ -555,7 +556,7 @@ func (pe *PolicyEvaluator) EvaluateSourceProv(ctx context.Context, repo *models.
 		return slsa.SourceVerifiedLevels{}, "", err
 	}
 
-	branchPolicy := rp.getBranchPolicy(branch.Name)
+	branchPolicy := rp.GetBranchPolicy(branch.Name)
 	if branchPolicy == nil {
 		branchPolicy = createDefaultBranchPolicy(branch)
 		policyPath = "DEFAULT"
diff --git a/pkg/policy/policy_test.go b/pkg/policy/policy_test.go
index 16de6213..704348dd 100644
--- a/pkg/policy/policy_test.go
+++ b/pkg/policy/policy_test.go
@@ -1443,7 +1443,7 @@ func assertPolicyResultEquals(t *testing.T, ctx context.Context, ghConn *ghcontr
 
 	// TODO: check the rest of the contents of expectedPolicy?
 
-	gotPb := rp.getBranchPolicy(ghcontrol.GetBranchFromRef(ghConn.GetFullRef()))
+	gotPb := rp.GetBranchPolicy(ghcontrol.GetBranchFromRef(ghConn.GetFullRef()))
 
 	if expectedBranchPolicy == nil {
 		if gotPb != nil {