diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index beff8484..fa327d6c 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ dist_tmate_SOURCES = \
 	tmate-ssh-client.c \
 	tmate-encoder.c \
 	tmate-decoder.c \
+	tmate-msg.c \
 	tmate.c \
 	tmux.c \
 	tty-acs.c \
diff --git a/options-table.c b/options-table.c
index 76a61619..7d0119e9 100644
--- a/options-table.c
+++ b/options-table.c
@@ -169,6 +169,13 @@ const struct options_table_entry session_options_table[] = {
 	  .default_num = 750
 	},
 
+	{ .name = "tmate-display-time",
+	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_NUMBER,
+	  .minimum = 1,
+	  .maximum = INT_MAX,
+	  .default_num = 30000
+	},
+
 	{ .name = "history-limit",
 	  .type = OPTIONS_TABLE_NUMBER,
 	  .minimum = 0,
diff --git a/resize.c b/resize.c
index 7f2ed236..91a8fa97 100644
--- a/resize.c
+++ b/resize.c
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ recalculate_sizes(void)
 			if (c == NULL || c->flags & CLIENT_SUSPENDED)
 				continue;
 			if (c->session == s) {
+#ifdef TMATE
+				if (c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS)
+					has_status = 1;
+#endif
 				if (c->tty.sx < ssx)
 					ssx = c->tty.sx;
 				if (has_status &&
diff --git a/server-client.c b/server-client.c
index 89a4faa6..1a7e3ca0 100644
--- a/server-client.c
+++ b/server-client.c
@@ -271,6 +271,9 @@ server_client_status_timer(void)
 		s = c->session;
 
 		if (!options_get_number(&s->options, "status"))
+#ifdef TMATE
+			if (!(c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS))
+#endif
 			continue;
 		interval = options_get_number(&s->options, "status-interval");
 
@@ -395,6 +398,9 @@ server_client_handle_key(struct client *c, int key)
 
 	/* Handle status line. */
 	if (!(c->flags & CLIENT_READONLY)) {
+#ifdef TMATE
+		if (!(c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS))
+#endif
 		status_message_clear(c);
 		server_clear_identify(c);
 	}
@@ -635,6 +641,10 @@ server_client_reset_state(struct client *c)
 	tty_region(&c->tty, 0, c->tty.sy - 1);
 
 	status = options_get_number(oo, "status");
+#ifdef TMATE
+	if (c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS)
+		status = 1;
+#endif
 	if (!window_pane_visible(wp) || wp->yoff + s->cy >= c->tty.sy - status)
 		tty_cursor(&c->tty, 0, 0);
 	else {
diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index f7a3420e..3eaa933d 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -171,6 +171,9 @@ status_redraw(struct client *c)
 
 	/* No status line? */
 	if (c->tty.sy == 0 || !options_get_number(&s->options, "status"))
+#ifdef TMATE
+		if (c->tty.sy == 0 || !(c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS))
+#endif
 		return (1);
 	left = right = NULL;
 	larrow = rarrow = 0;
@@ -802,6 +805,7 @@ status_message_set(struct client *c, const char *fmt, ...)
 		}
 	}
 
+	/* FIXME tmux: session can be NULL */
 	delay = options_get_number(&c->session->options, "display-time");
 	tv.tv_sec = delay / 1000;
 	tv.tv_usec = (delay % 1000) * 1000L;
@@ -826,6 +830,12 @@ status_message_clear(struct client *c)
 	c->message_string = NULL;
 
 	c->tty.flags &= ~(TTY_NOCURSOR|TTY_FREEZE);
+#ifdef TMATE
+	if (c->flags & CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS) {
+		c->flags &= ~CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS;
+		recalculate_sizes();
+	}
+#endif
 	c->flags |= CLIENT_REDRAW; /* screen was frozen and may have changed */
 
 	screen_reinit(&c->status);
diff --git a/tmate-decoder.c b/tmate-decoder.c
index 1abe700e..00c4890f 100644
--- a/tmate-decoder.c
+++ b/tmate-decoder.c
@@ -74,6 +74,13 @@ static char *unpack_string(struct tmate_unpacker *uk)
 	return alloc_buf;
 }
 
+static void tmate_reply_header(struct tmate_unpacker *uk)
+{
+	unsigned long flags = unpack_int(uk);
+	char *remote_session = unpack_string(uk);
+
+	tmate_status_message("Remote session: %s", remote_session);
+}
 
 static void tmate_client_pane_key(struct tmate_unpacker *uk)
 {
@@ -138,6 +145,7 @@ static void handle_message(msgpack_object obj)
 	init_unpacker(uk, obj);
 
 	switch (unpack_int(uk)) {
+	case TMATE_REPLY_HEADER:	tmate_reply_header(uk); break;
 	case TMATE_CLIENT_PANE_KEY:	tmate_client_pane_key(uk); break;
 	case TMATE_CLIENT_RESIZE:	tmate_client_resize(uk); break;
 	case TMATE_CLIENT_CMD:		tmate_client_cmd(uk); break;
diff --git a/tmate-msg.c b/tmate-msg.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7fe0c0b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tmate-msg.c
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+#include <time.h>
+#include "tmate.h"
+
+void status_message_callback(int, short, void *);
+
+/* Very similar to status.c:status_message_set */
+
+static void tmate_status_message_client(struct client *c, const char *message)
+{
+	struct timeval		 tv;
+	struct session		*s = c->session;
+	struct message_entry	*msg;
+	int			 delay;
+	u_int			 i, limit;
+
+	status_prompt_clear(c);
+	status_message_clear(c);
+
+	xasprintf(&c->message_string, "tmate: %s", message);
+
+	ARRAY_EXPAND(&c->message_log, 1);
+	msg = &ARRAY_LAST(&c->message_log);
+	msg->msg_time = time(NULL);
+	msg->msg = xstrdup(c->message_string);
+
+	if (!s)
+		return;
+
+	limit = options_get_number(&s->options, "message-limit");
+	if (ARRAY_LENGTH(&c->message_log) > limit) {
+		limit = ARRAY_LENGTH(&c->message_log) - limit;
+		for (i = 0; i < limit; i++) {
+			msg = &ARRAY_FIRST(&c->message_log);
+			free(msg->msg);
+			ARRAY_REMOVE(&c->message_log, 0);
+		}
+	}
+
+	delay = options_get_number(&c->session->options, "tmate-display-time");
+	tv.tv_sec = delay / 1000;
+	tv.tv_usec = (delay % 1000) * 1000L;
+
+	if (event_initialized (&c->message_timer))
+		evtimer_del(&c->message_timer);
+	evtimer_set(&c->message_timer, status_message_callback, c);
+	evtimer_add(&c->message_timer, &tv);
+
+	c->flags |= CLIENT_STATUS | CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS;
+
+	recalculate_sizes();
+}
+
+void __tmate_status_message(const char *fmt, va_list ap)
+{
+	struct client *c;
+	unsigned int i;
+	char *message;
+
+	xvasprintf(&message, fmt, ap);
+	tmate_debug("%s", message);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_LENGTH(&clients); i++) {
+		c = ARRAY_ITEM(&clients, i);
+		if (c && !(c->flags & CLIENT_READONLY))
+			tmate_status_message_client(c, message);
+	}
+
+	free(message);
+}
+
+void printflike1 tmate_status_message(const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+	va_list ap;
+
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
+	__tmate_status_message(fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
+}
diff --git a/tmate-ssh-client.c b/tmate-ssh-client.c
index ccb147ed..4ca1a914 100644
--- a/tmate-ssh-client.c
+++ b/tmate-ssh-client.c
@@ -11,8 +11,10 @@ static void consume_channel(struct tmate_ssh_client *client);
 static void flush_input_stream(struct tmate_ssh_client *client);
 static void __flush_input_stream(evutil_socket_t fd, short what, void *arg);
 static void __on_session_event(evutil_socket_t fd, short what, void *arg);
-static void disconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client);
-static void reconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client);
+static void printflike2 disconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client,
+					   const char *fmt, ...);
+static void printflike2 reconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client,
+					  const char *fmt, ...);
 
 static void log_function(ssh_session session, int priority,
 		  const char *message, void *userdata)
@@ -56,9 +58,8 @@ static void consume_channel(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 		tmate_decoder_get_buffer(client->decoder, &buf, &len);
 		len = ssh_channel_read_nonblocking(client->channel, buf, len, 0);
 		if (len < 0) {
-			tmate_debug("Error reading from channel: %s",
-				    ssh_get_error(client->session));
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Error reading from channel: %s",
+					  ssh_get_error(client->session));
 			break;
 		}
 
@@ -107,7 +108,7 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 		ssh_options_set(session, SSH_OPTIONS_USER, "tmate");
 		ssh_options_set(session, SSH_OPTIONS_COMPRESSION, "yes");
 
-		tmate_debug("Connecting...");
+		tmate_status_message("Connecting to %s...", TMATE_HOST);
 		client->state = SSH_CONNECT;
 		/* fall through */
 
@@ -117,8 +118,8 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 			register_session_fd_event(client);
 			return;
 		case SSH_ERROR:
-			tmate_debug("Error connecting: %s", ssh_get_error(session));
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Error connecting: %s",
+					  ssh_get_error(session));
 			return;
 		case SSH_OK:
 			register_session_fd_event(client);
@@ -129,8 +130,7 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 
 	case SSH_AUTH_SERVER:
 		if ((hash_len = ssh_get_pubkey_hash(session, &hash)) < 0) {
-			tmate_debug("Cannnot authenticate server");
-			disconnect_session(client);
+			disconnect_session(client, "Cannnot authenticate server");
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -165,8 +165,7 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 		free(hash_str);
 
 		if (!match) {
-			tmate_debug("Cannnot authenticate server");
-			disconnect_session(client);
+			disconnect_session(client, "Cannnot authenticate server");
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -180,12 +179,11 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 		case SSH_AUTH_PARTIAL:
 		case SSH_AUTH_INFO:
 		case SSH_AUTH_DENIED:
-			tmate_debug("Access denied. Try again later.");
-			disconnect_session(client);
+			disconnect_session(client, "Access denied. Try again later.");
 			return;
 		case SSH_AUTH_ERROR:
-			tmate_debug("Auth error: %s", ssh_get_error(session));
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Auth error: %s",
+					  ssh_get_error(session));
 			return;
 		case SSH_AUTH_SUCCESS:
 			tmate_debug("Auth successful");
@@ -198,8 +196,8 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 		case SSH_AGAIN:
 			return;
 		case SSH_ERROR:
-			tmate_debug("Error opening channel: %s", ssh_get_error(session));
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Error opening channel: %s",
+					  ssh_get_error(session));
 			return;
 		case SSH_OK:
 			tmate_debug("Session opened, initalizing tmate");
@@ -212,8 +210,8 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 		case SSH_AGAIN:
 			return;
 		case SSH_ERROR:
-			tmate_debug("Error initializing tmate: %s", ssh_get_error(session));
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Error initializing tmate: %s",
+					  ssh_get_error(session));
 			return;
 		case SSH_OK:
 			tmate_debug("Ready");
@@ -230,8 +228,7 @@ static void on_session_event(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 	case SSH_READY:
 		consume_channel(client);
 		if (!ssh_is_connected(session)) {
-			tmate_debug("Disconnected");
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Disconnected");
 			return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -255,9 +252,8 @@ static void flush_input_stream(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 
 		written = ssh_channel_write(client->channel, buf, len);
 		if (written < 0) {
-			tmate_debug("Error writing to channel: %s",
-				    ssh_get_error(client->session));
-			reconnect_session(client);
+			reconnect_session(client, "Error writing to channel: %s",
+					  ssh_get_error(client->session));
 			return;
 		}
 
@@ -275,8 +271,11 @@ static void __on_session_event(evutil_socket_t fd, short what, void *arg)
 	on_session_event(arg);
 }
 
-static void disconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
+static void __disconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client,
+				 const char *fmt, va_list va)
 {
+	__tmate_status_message(fmt, va);
+
 	if (event_initialized(&client->ev_ssh)) {
 		event_del(&client->ev_ssh);
 		client->ev_ssh.ev_flags = 0;
@@ -297,6 +296,16 @@ static void disconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 	client->state = SSH_NONE;
 }
 
+static void printflike2 disconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client,
+					   const char *fmt, ...)
+{
+	va_list ap;
+
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
+	__disconnect_session(client, fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
+}
+
 static void connect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
 {
 	if (!client->session) {
@@ -310,11 +319,15 @@ static void on_reconnect_timer(evutil_socket_t fd, short what, void *arg)
 	connect_session(arg);
 }
 
-static void reconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client)
+static void printflike2 reconnect_session(struct tmate_ssh_client *client,
+					  const char *fmt, ...)
 {
 	struct timeval tv;
+	va_list ap;
 
-	disconnect_session(client);
+	va_start(ap, fmt);
+	__disconnect_session(client, fmt, ap);
+	va_end(ap);
 
 	/* Not yet implemented... */
 #if 0
diff --git a/tmate.h b/tmate.h
index c9848045..612fc184 100644
--- a/tmate.h
+++ b/tmate.h
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ extern void tmate_status(const char *left, const char *right);
 /* tmate-decoder.c */
 
 enum tmate_client_commands {
+	TMATE_REPLY_HEADER,
 	TMATE_CLIENT_PANE_KEY,
 	TMATE_CLIENT_RESIZE,
 	TMATE_CLIENT_CMD,
@@ -112,4 +113,9 @@ extern void tmate_client_start(void);
 /* tmate-debug.c */
 extern void tmate_print_trace (void);
 
+/* tmate-msg.c */
+
+extern void __tmate_status_message(const char *fmt, va_list ap);
+extern void printflike1 tmate_status_message(const char *fmt, ...);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/tmux.h b/tmux.h
index c8afa93e..7a3cbb3e 100644
--- a/tmux.h
+++ b/tmux.h
@@ -1332,6 +1332,9 @@ struct client {
 #define CLIENT_REDRAWWINDOW 0x1000
 #define CLIENT_CONTROL 0x2000
 #define CLIENT_FOCUSED 0x4000
+#ifdef TMATE
+#define CLIENT_FORCE_STATUS 0x800000
+#endif
 	int		 flags;
 
 	struct event	 identify_timer;