diff --git a/tools/push b/tools/push
index ea9bbe170..dee348e4a 100755
--- a/tools/push
+++ b/tools/push
@@ -36,6 +36,9 @@ ciwait() {
     sleep $MAINPUSHDELAY
 }
 
+# ensure git's use of pager doesn't stop progress
+export PAGER=cat
+
 echo "latest local commits are:"
 gitlog
 echo "force-pushing $LOCALBRANCH to $REMOTE/$REMOTECIBRANCH"