diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index ec58069c..132f5aea 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -10,6 +10,10 @@ Changelog for zest.releaser
   needed for most entry points, btw).
   Fixes `issue 370 <https://github.com/zestsoftware/zest.releaser/issues/370>`_.
 
+- Allowing for retry for ``git push``, which might fail because of a protected
+  branch. Also displaying that possible cause when it occurs. Fixes `issue 385
+  <https://github.com/zestsoftware/zest.releaser/issues/385>`_.
+
 
 9.0.0a2 (2023-07-19)
 --------------------
diff --git a/zest/releaser/baserelease.py b/zest/releaser/baserelease.py
index f0b8f60a..82b4e88b 100644
--- a/zest/releaser/baserelease.py
+++ b/zest/releaser/baserelease.py
@@ -408,7 +408,11 @@ def _push(self):
         default_anwer = self.zest_releaser_config.push_changes()
         if utils.ask("OK to push commits to the server?", default=default_anwer):
             for push_cmd in push_cmds:
-                output = execute_command(push_cmd)
+                output = execute_command(
+                    push_cmd,
+                    allow_retry=True,
+                    fail_message="Perhaps the main branch is protected?",
+                )
                 logger.info(output)
 
     def _run_hooks(self, when):
diff --git a/zest/releaser/utils.py b/zest/releaser/utils.py
index 29da211d..8e128adf 100644
--- a/zest/releaser/utils.py
+++ b/zest/releaser/utils.py
@@ -740,6 +740,9 @@ def execute_command(
     result = _execute_command(command, cwd=cwd, extra_environ=extra_environ)
     if not allow_retry:
         return result
+    if AUTO_RESPONSE:
+        # Also don't ask for retry, just return the result.
+        return result
     if Fore.RED not in result:
         show_interesting_lines(result)
         return result
@@ -770,7 +773,11 @@ def execute_commands(commands, allow_retry=False, fail_message=""):
 
 
 def retry_yes_no(command):
-    """Ask the user to maybe retry a command."""
+    """Ask the user to maybe retry a command.
+
+    This is used for the twine upload command and for the final 'git push'.
+
+    """
     explanation = """
     You have these options for retrying (first character is enough):
     Yes:   Retry. Do this if it looks like a temporary Internet or PyPI outage.
@@ -778,7 +785,8 @@ def retry_yes_no(command):
            case of a credentials problem.
     No:    Do not retry, but continue with the rest of the process.
     Quit:  Stop completely. Note that the postrelease step has not
-           been run yet, you need to do that manually.
+           finished fully. You need to do the 'git push' and possibly the upload
+           manually.
     ?:     Show this help."""
     explanation = textwrap.dedent(explanation)
     question = "Retry this command? [Yes/no/quit/?]"