diff --git a/_example/example.go b/_example/example.go
index e4834aa..6e5daff 100644
--- a/_example/example.go
+++ b/_example/example.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 var server = flag.String("server", "talk.google.com:443", "server")
 var username = flag.String("username", "", "username")
 var password = flag.String("password", "", "password")
+var status = flag.String("status", "", "status")
 var notls = flag.Bool("notls", false, "No TLS")
 var debug = flag.Bool("debug", false, "debug output")
 var session = flag.Bool("session", false, "use server session")
@@ -47,7 +48,9 @@ func main() {
 		Password: *password,
 		NoTLS:    *notls,
 		Debug:    *debug,
-		Session:  *session}
+		Session:  *session,
+		Status:   *status,
+	}
 
 	talk, err = options.NewClient()
 
diff --git a/xmpp.go b/xmpp.go
index 08749e1..b5d15cb 100644
--- a/xmpp.go
+++ b/xmpp.go
@@ -133,8 +133,11 @@ type Options struct {
 	// Debug output
 	Debug bool
 
-	//Use server sessions
+	// Use server sessions
 	Session bool
+
+	// Status message
+	Status string
 }
 
 // NewClient establishes a new Client connection based on a set of Options.
@@ -407,7 +410,7 @@ func (c *Client) init(o *Options) error {
 	}
 
 	// We're connected and can now receive and send messages.
-	fmt.Fprintf(c.conn, "<presence xml:lang='en'><show>xa</show><status>I for one welcome our new codebot overlords.</status></presence>")
+	fmt.Fprintf(c.conn, "<presence xml:lang='en'><show>xa</show><status>%s</status></presence>", o.Status)
 	return nil
 }