diff --git a/pkg/action/hooks.go b/pkg/action/hooks.go
index 8338b599a..3796b726a 100644
--- a/pkg/action/hooks.go
+++ b/pkg/action/hooks.go
@@ -48,16 +48,27 @@ func (cfg *Configuration) execHook(rl *release.Release, hook release.HookEvent,
 		if err != nil {
 			return errors.Wrapf(err, "unable to build kubernetes object for %s hook %s", hook, h.Path)
 		}
-		if _, err := cfg.KubeClient.Create(resources); err != nil {
-			return errors.Wrapf(err, "warning: Hook %s %s failed", hook, h.Path)
-		}
 
-		// Get the time at which the hook was applied to the cluster
+		// Record the time at which the hook was applied to the cluster
 		h.LastRun = release.HookExecution{
 			StartedAt: time.Now(),
-			Phase:     release.HookPhaseUnknown,
+			Phase:     release.HookPhaseRunning,
+		}
+		cfg.recordRelease(rl)
+
+		// As long as the implementation of WatchUntilReady does not panic, HookPhaseFailed or HookPhaseSucceeded
+		// should always be set by this function. If we fail to do that for any reason, then HookPhaseUnknown is
+		// the most appropriate value to surface.
+		h.LastRun.Phase = release.HookPhaseUnknown
+
+		// Create hook resources
+		if _, err := cfg.KubeClient.Create(resources); err != nil {
+			h.LastRun.CompletedAt = time.Now()
+			h.LastRun.Phase = release.HookPhaseFailed
+			return errors.Wrapf(err, "warning: Hook %s %s failed", hook, h.Path)
 		}
-		// Execute the hook
+
+		// Watch hook resources until they have completed
 		err = cfg.KubeClient.WatchUntilReady(resources, timeout)
 		// Note the time of success/failure
 		h.LastRun.CompletedAt = time.Now()
diff --git a/pkg/release/hook.go b/pkg/release/hook.go
index 5cec89e3a..96cc4f250 100644
--- a/pkg/release/hook.go
+++ b/pkg/release/hook.go
@@ -94,6 +94,8 @@ type HookPhase string
 const (
 	// HookPhaseUnknown indicates that a hook is in an unknown state
 	HookPhaseUnknown HookPhase = "Unknown"
+	// HookPhaseRunning indicates that a hook is currently executing
+	HookPhaseRunning HookPhase = "Running"
 	// HookPhaseSucceeded indicates that hook execution succeeded
 	HookPhaseSucceeded HookPhase = "Succeeded"
 	// HookPhaseFailed indicates that hook execution failed