diff --git a/tools/binctl b/tools/binctl
index 16250f403b..7819062ce1 100755
--- a/tools/binctl
+++ b/tools/binctl
@@ -18,7 +18,18 @@ def format_sigmask(sigmask):
 
 def format_vtrust(vtrust):
     bits = [str(b) if vtrust & (1 << b) == 0 else '.' for b in range(16)]
-    return '%d = [%s]' % (vtrust, ' '.join(bits))
+    # see docs/bootloader.md for vtrust constants
+    desc = ''
+    wait = (vtrust & 0x000F) ^ 0x000F
+    if wait > 0:
+        desc = 'WAIT_%d' % wait
+    if vtrust & 0x0010 == 0:
+        desc += ' RED'
+    if vtrust & 0x0020 == 0:
+        desc += ' CLICK'
+    if vtrust & 0x0040 == 0:
+        desc += ' STRING'
+    return '%d = [%s] = [%s]' % (vtrust, ' '.join(bits), desc)
 
 
 # bootloader/firmware headers specification: https://github.com/trezor/trezor-core/blob/master/docs/bootloader.md