diff --git a/lib/git.zsh b/lib/git.zsh
index 889dd98df..57a78e27f 100644
--- a/lib/git.zsh
+++ b/lib/git.zsh
@@ -11,3 +11,31 @@ parse_git_dirty () {
     echo "$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_CLEAN"
   fi
 }
+
+# get the status of the working tree
+git_prompt_status() {
+  INDEX=$(git status --porcelain 2> /dev/null)
+  STATUS=""
+  if $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^?? ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_UNTRACKED$STATUS"
+  fi
+  if $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^A  ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_ADDED$STATUS"
+  elif $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^M  ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_ADDED$STATUS"
+  fi
+  if $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^ M ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_MODIFIED$STATUS"
+  fi
+  if $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^R  ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_RENAMED$STATUS"
+  fi
+  if $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^ D ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_DELETED$STATUS"
+  fi
+  if $(echo "$INDEX" | grep '^UU ' &> /dev/null); then
+    STATUS="$ZSH_THEME_GIT_PROMPT_UNMERGED$STATUS"
+  fi
+  echo $STATUS
+}
+