diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c b/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c
index e18beaac6..425a96d7e 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-client.c
@@ -860,6 +860,24 @@ fwupd_client_get_percentage (FwupdClient *client)
 	return priv->percentage;
 }
 
+/**
+ * fwupd_client_get_status:
+ * @client: A #FwupdClient
+ *
+ * Gets the last returned status value.
+ *
+ * Returns: a #FwupdStatus, or %FWUPD_STATUS_UNKNOWN for unknown.
+ *
+ * Since: 0.7.3
+ **/
+FwupdStatus
+fwupd_client_get_status (FwupdClient *client)
+{
+	FwupdClientPrivate *priv = GET_PRIVATE (client);
+	g_return_val_if_fail (FWUPD_IS_CLIENT (client), FWUPD_STATUS_UNKNOWN);
+	return priv->status;
+}
+
 /**
  * fwupd_client_update_metadata:
  * @client: A #FwupdClient
diff --git a/libfwupd/fwupd-client.h b/libfwupd/fwupd-client.h
index 5f1b3b940..7ecf01e16 100644
--- a/libfwupd/fwupd-client.h
+++ b/libfwupd/fwupd-client.h
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ gboolean	 fwupd_client_update_metadata		(FwupdClient	*client,
 							 const gchar	*signature_fn,
 							 GCancellable	*cancellable,
 							 GError		**error);
+FwupdStatus	 fwupd_client_get_status		(FwupdClient	*client);
 guint		 fwupd_client_get_percentage		(FwupdClient	*client);
 
 G_END_DECLS