diff --git a/lib/systemd.c b/lib/systemd.c
index 8a2a5eeac3..44db48d006 100644
--- a/lib/systemd.c
+++ b/lib/systemd.c
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ static int systemd_get_watchdog_time(int the_process)
 
 void systemd_send_stopping(void)
 {
+	systemd_send_information("STATUS=");
 	systemd_send_information("STOPPING=1");
 }
 
@@ -116,3 +117,11 @@ void systemd_send_started(struct thread_master *m, int the_process)
 	if (wsecs != 0)
 		thread_add_timer(m, systemd_send_watchdog, m, wsecs, NULL);
 }
+
+void systemd_send_status(const char *status)
+{
+	char buffer[1024];
+
+	snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "STATUS=%s", status);
+	systemd_send_information(buffer);
+}
diff --git a/lib/systemd.h b/lib/systemd.h
index 6e43df527d..1f730720ce 100644
--- a/lib/systemd.h
+++ b/lib/systemd.h
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ void systemd_send_stopping(void);
  */
 void systemd_send_started(struct thread_master *master, int the_process);
 
+/*
+ * status - A status string to send to systemd
+ */
+void systemd_send_status(const char *status);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/watchfrr/watchfrr.c b/watchfrr/watchfrr.c
index a6a910a1db..ea59655824 100644
--- a/watchfrr/watchfrr.c
+++ b/watchfrr/watchfrr.c
@@ -460,12 +460,20 @@ static int run_job(struct restart_info *restart, const char *cmdtype,
 		return -1;
 	}
 
+#if defined HAVE_SYSTEMD
+	char buffer[512];
+
+	snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "restarting %s", restart->name);
+	systemd_send_status(buffer);
+#endif
+
 	/* Note: time_elapsed test must come before the force test, since we
 	   need
 	   to make sure that delay is initialized for use below in updating the
 	   restart interval. */
 	if ((time_elapsed(&delay, &restart->time)->tv_sec < restart->interval)
 	    && !force) {
+
 		if (gs.loglevel > LOG_DEBUG + 1)
 			zlog_debug(
 				"postponing %s %s: "
@@ -490,6 +498,9 @@ static int run_job(struct restart_info *restart, const char *cmdtype,
 			restart->pid = 0;
 	}
 
+#if defined HAVE_SYSTEMD
+	systemd_send_status("FRR Operational");
+#endif
 	/* Calculate the new restart interval. */
 	if (update_interval) {
 		if (delay.tv_sec > 2 * gs.max_restart_interval)
@@ -707,6 +718,7 @@ static void daemon_send_ready(int exitcode)
 		fclose(fp);
 #if defined HAVE_SYSTEMD
 	systemd_send_started(master, 0);
+	systemd_send_status("FRR Operational");
 #endif
 	sent = 1;
 }