diff --git a/server.c b/server.c
index 9c8254a4..f23823f4 100644
--- a/server.c
+++ b/server.c
@@ -506,7 +506,9 @@ server_second_callback(unused int fd, unused short events, unused void *arg)
 		}
 	}
 
+#ifndef TMATE_SLAVE
 	server_client_status_timer();
+#endif
 
 	evtimer_del(&server_ev_second);
 	memset(&tv, 0, sizeof tv);
diff --git a/status.c b/status.c
index f120c38a..448ac7f3 100644
--- a/status.c
+++ b/status.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <unistd.h>
 
 #include "tmux.h"
+#include "tmate.h"
 
 char   *status_redraw_get_left(
 	    struct client *, time_t, int, struct grid_cell *, size_t *);
@@ -94,8 +95,12 @@ status_redraw_get_left(struct client *c,
 	if (attr != 0)
 		gc->attr = attr;
 
+#ifdef TMATE_SLAVE
+	left = xstrdup(tmate_left_status ?: "");
+#else
 	left = status_replace(c, NULL,
 	    NULL, NULL, options_get_string(&s->options, "status-left"), t, 1);
+#endif
 
 	*size = options_get_number(&s->options, "status-left-length");
 	leftlen = screen_write_cstrlen(utf8flag, "%s", left);
@@ -124,8 +129,12 @@ status_redraw_get_right(struct client *c,
 	if (attr != 0)
 		gc->attr = attr;
 
+#ifdef TMATE_SLAVE
+	right = xstrdup(tmate_right_status ?: "");
+#else
 	right = status_replace(c, NULL,
 	    NULL, NULL, options_get_string(&s->options, "status-right"), t, 1);
+#endif
 
 	*size = options_get_number(&s->options, "status-right-length");
 	rightlen = screen_write_cstrlen(utf8flag, "%s", right);
diff --git a/tmate-decoder.c b/tmate-decoder.c
index 46948e81..2f5c345b 100644
--- a/tmate-decoder.c
+++ b/tmate-decoder.c
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #include "tmate.h"
 
+char *tmate_left_status, *tmate_right_status;
+
 static struct session *main_session;
 
 struct tmate_unpacker {
@@ -227,6 +229,20 @@ out:
 	free(cmd_str);
 }
 
+static void tmate_status(struct tmate_unpacker *uk)
+{
+	struct client *c;
+	unsigned int i;
+
+	free(tmate_left_status);
+	free(tmate_right_status);
+	tmate_left_status = unpack_string(uk);
+	tmate_right_status = unpack_string(uk);
+
+	for (i = 0; i < ARRAY_LENGTH(&clients); i++)
+		ARRAY_ITEM(&clients, i)->flags |= CLIENT_STATUS;
+}
+
 static void handle_message(msgpack_object obj)
 {
 	struct tmate_unpacker _uk;
@@ -240,6 +256,7 @@ static void handle_message(msgpack_object obj)
 	case TMATE_SYNC_WINDOW:	tmate_sync_window(uk);	break;
 	case TMATE_PTY_DATA:	tmate_pty_data(uk);	break;
 	case TMATE_CMD:		tmate_cmd(uk);		break;
+	case TMATE_STATUS:	tmate_status(uk);	break;
 	default:		decoder_error();
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tmate.h b/tmate.h
index f01419e5..2d18fba2 100644
--- a/tmate.h
+++ b/tmate.h
@@ -42,11 +42,14 @@ extern int tmate_should_exec_cmd_locally(const struct cmd_entry *cmd);
 #define TMATE_HLIMIT 1000
 #define TMATE_MAX_MESSAGE_SIZE (16*1024)
 
+extern char *tmate_left_status, *tmate_right_status;
+
 enum tmate_commands {
 	TMATE_HEADER,
 	TMATE_SYNC_WINDOW,
 	TMATE_PTY_DATA,
 	TMATE_CMD,
+	TMATE_STATUS,
 };
 
 #define TMATE_PANE_ACTIVE 1