A surgical fastening apparatus comprises first and second handles with an anvil jaw pivotally connected to at least one of the handles for movement from an open to a closed position in response to a first movement of a handle to clamp body tissue. Fastener pushing means are provided for advancing an individual fastener into contact with the anvil jaw in response to a subsequent movement of a handle. An indicator is provided to alert the user to the termination of the first movement; in a preferred embodiment this indicator is a second movement dwell period of the apparatus in which handle movement continues but the anvil jaw remains stationary and the fastener pushing means is not yet actuated. The apparatus further comprises means for preventing incomplete actuation of the fastener pushing means during the subsequent handle movement.