diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index a4ed75b2..cabb800e 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ byobu (4.14) unreleased; urgency=low
   * usr/bin/byobu-status, usr/lib/byobu/.constants,
     usr/lib/byobu/Makefile.am, usr/lib/byobu/.shutil:
     - add copyright headers, install constants
+  * usr/bin/byobu-status:
+    - import constants
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Thu, 16 Jun 2011 16:16:29 -0500
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu-status b/usr/bin/byobu-status
index e70039f3..baa0ee38 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu-status
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu-status
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ if ! . "${BYOBU_PREFIX}/lib/${PKG}/.shutil"; then
 	exit 1
 fi
 
+if ! . "${BYOBU_PREFIX}/lib/${PKG}/.constants"; then
+	echo "failed to source ${BYOBU_PREFIX}/lib/${PKG}/.constants" 2>&1
+	echo "If you have installed elsewhere, export BYOBU_PREFIX in your shell" 2>&1
+	exit 1
+fi
+
 # Define colors
 ESC="\005"
 color() {