diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index bcbd5889..d1b2d88d 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ byobu (3.7) unreleased; urgency=low
     - add notify_osd support to byobu, LP: #669189
     - separate the perl into a script of its own
     - add per-pid notifier monitors, terminate when screen terminates
+    - allow for disabling the notify_osd status; must handle in the perl
+      script
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Thu, 21 Oct 2010 12:09:14 -0500
 
diff --git a/usr/lib/byobu/.notify_osd b/usr/lib/byobu/.notify_osd
index 3025f1f9..e79294bb 100755
--- a/usr/lib/byobu/.notify_osd
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/.notify_osd
@@ -20,7 +20,20 @@
 #    along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
 
 $/ = "\n\n";
+$PKG = "byobu";
 while (<STDIN>) {
+	# Ensure that the notify_osd indicator is enabled
+	my $skip = 0;
+	open(F, "<$ENV{HOME}/.$PKG/status");
+	foreach my $i (<F>) {
+		if ($i =~ /notify_osd=0/) {
+			$skip = 1;
+		}
+	}
+	close(F);
+	if ($skip == 1) {
+		next;
+	}
 	$msg = $_;
 	$msg =~ s/\[[^,]*, //;		# strip the leading "[timestamp, "
 	$msg =~ s/ \] /: /;		# replace the " ] " following the indicator name, with ":"