diff --git a/progressbar.go b/progressbar.go
index 125290a..e0bcf39 100644
--- a/progressbar.go
+++ b/progressbar.go
@@ -803,6 +803,13 @@ func (p *ProgressBar) Describe(description string) {
 	if p.config.invisible {
 		return
 	}
+	// if already finished, re-render with the new description
+	if p.state.finished && !p.config.clearOnFinish && !p.config.useANSICodes {
+		clearProgressBar(p.config, p.state)
+		io.Copy(p.config.writer, &p.config.stdBuffer)
+		renderProgressBar(p.config, &p.state)
+		return
+	}
 	p.render()
 }
 
diff --git a/progressbar_test.go b/progressbar_test.go
index c64f660..34ee7b4 100644
--- a/progressbar_test.go
+++ b/progressbar_test.go
@@ -853,6 +853,22 @@ func TestProgressBar_Describe(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestProgressBar_DescribeAfterFinish(t *testing.T) {
+	buf := strings.Builder{}
+	bar := NewOptions(100,
+		OptionSetDescription("Uploading files"),
+		OptionShowCount(),
+		OptionSetWriter(&buf),
+		OptionSetWidth(10),
+	)
+	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
+		bar.Add(1)
+	}
+	bar.Describe("Upload complete")
+	result := buf.String()
+	assert.Contains(t, result, "Upload complete")
+}
+
 func TestRenderBlankStateWithThrottle(t *testing.T) {
 	buf := strings.Builder{}
 	bar := NewOptions(100, OptionSetWidth(10), OptionSetRenderBlankState(true), OptionThrottle(time.Millisecond), OptionSetWriter(&buf))