diff --git a/command/agent/agent.go b/command/agent/agent.go
index ca816ff27f9b..5d5e46584f2d 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent.go
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ func (a *Agent) AddService(service *structs.NodeService, chkType *CheckType) err
 			CheckID:     fmt.Sprintf("service:%s", service.ID),
 			Name:        fmt.Sprintf("Service '%s' check", service.Service),
 			Status:      structs.HealthUnknown,
-			Notes:       "Initializing",
+			Notes:       "",
 			ServiceID:   service.ID,
 			ServiceName: service.Service,
 		}
diff --git a/command/agent/agent_test.go b/command/agent/agent_test.go
index 71d960039ca1..85d30c8ab725 100644
--- a/command/agent/agent_test.go
+++ b/command/agent/agent_test.go
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ func TestAgent_UpdateCheck(t *testing.T) {
 	if status.Status != structs.HealthPassing {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", status)
 	}
-	if status.Notes != "foo" {
+	if status.Output != "foo" {
 		t.Fatalf("bad: %v", status)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/command/agent/check.go b/command/agent/check.go
index f79aaff966d9..0f639311f26f 100644
--- a/command/agent/check.go
+++ b/command/agent/check.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (c *CheckType) IsMonitor() bool {
 // to notify when a check has a status update. The update
 // should take care to be idempotent.
 type CheckNotifier interface {
-	UpdateCheck(checkID, status, note string)
+	UpdateCheck(checkID, status, output string)
 }
 
 // CheckMonitor is used to periodically invoke a script to
@@ -137,14 +137,14 @@ func (c *CheckMonitor) check() {
 	}()
 	err := <-errCh
 
-	notes := string(output.Bytes())
+	outputStr := string(output.Bytes())
 	c.Logger.Printf("[DEBUG] agent: check '%s' script '%s' output: %s",
-		c.CheckID, c.Script, notes)
+		c.CheckID, c.Script, outputStr)
 
 	// Check if the check passed
 	if err == nil {
 		c.Logger.Printf("[DEBUG] Check '%v' is passing", c.CheckID)
-		c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, structs.HealthPassing, notes)
+		c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, structs.HealthPassing, outputStr)
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ func (c *CheckMonitor) check() {
 			code := status.ExitStatus()
 			if code == 1 {
 				c.Logger.Printf("[WARN] Check '%v' is now warning", c.CheckID)
-				c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, structs.HealthWarning, notes)
+				c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, structs.HealthWarning, outputStr)
 				return
 			}
 		}
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func (c *CheckMonitor) check() {
 
 	// Set the health as critical
 	c.Logger.Printf("[WARN] Check '%v' is now critical", c.CheckID)
-	c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, structs.HealthCritical, notes)
+	c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, structs.HealthCritical, outputStr)
 }
 
 // CheckTTL is used to apply a TTL to check status,
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ func (c *CheckTTL) run() {
 
 // SetStatus is used to update the status of the check,
 // and to renew the TTL. If expired, TTL is restarted.
-func (c *CheckTTL) SetStatus(status, note string) {
+func (c *CheckTTL) SetStatus(status, output string) {
 	c.Logger.Printf("[DEBUG] Check '%v' status is now %v",
 		c.CheckID, status)
-	c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, status, note)
+	c.Notify.UpdateCheck(c.CheckID, status, output)
 	c.timer.Reset(c.TTL)
 }
diff --git a/command/agent/local.go b/command/agent/local.go
index 726162aabcb7..9254564bf2ed 100644
--- a/command/agent/local.go
+++ b/command/agent/local.go
@@ -186,13 +186,13 @@ func (l *localState) UpdateCheck(checkID, status, output string) {
 	}
 
 	// Do nothing if update is idempotent
-	if check.Status == status && check.Notes == output {
+	if check.Status == status && check.Output == output {
 		return
 	}
 
 	// Update status and mark out of sync
 	check.Status = status
-	check.Notes = output
+	check.Output = output
 	l.checkStatus[checkID] = syncStatus{inSync: false}
 	l.changeMade()
 }
diff --git a/consul/structs/structs.go b/consul/structs/structs.go
index 2aac5ee982e6..1ebfae6a4ea8 100644
--- a/consul/structs/structs.go
+++ b/consul/structs/structs.go
@@ -205,6 +205,7 @@ type HealthCheck struct {
 	Name        string // Check name
 	Status      string // The current check status
 	Notes       string // Additional notes with the status
+	Output      string // Holds output of script runs
 	ServiceID   string // optional associated service
 	ServiceName string // optional service name
 }