diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index e29436f4..680b9696 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 byobu (5.74) unreleased; urgency=low
 
+  [ Dustin Kirkland ]
   * usr/lib/byobu/include/ec2instancespricing.py: LP: #1286367
     - merged in updated instance pricing script from
       https://github.com/erans/ec2instancespricing
 
+  [ Jan Klepek ]
+  * usr/lib/byobu/include/config.py: LP: #1286249
+    - fall back to using the distro status file, fixes
+      crash in config if status file disappears
+
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Mon, 17 Feb 2014 15:07:01 -0600
 
 byobu (5.73-0ubuntu1) trusty; urgency=low
diff --git a/usr/lib/byobu/include/config.py b/usr/lib/byobu/include/config.py
index a51efba8..73d75b46 100755
--- a/usr/lib/byobu/include/config.py
+++ b/usr/lib/byobu/include/config.py
@@ -212,10 +212,16 @@ def writestatus(items):
 		status[i[1]] = i[0]
 	for key in ["tmux_left", "tmux_right", "screen_upper_left", "screen_upper_right", "screen_lower_left", "screen_lower_right"]:
 		if key.startswith(BYOBU_BACKEND):
-			f = open(path, "r")
+			try:
+				f = open(path, "r")
+			except:
+				f = open(SHARE + '/status/status', "r")
 			lines = f.readlines()
 			f.close()
-			f = open(path, "w")
+			try:
+				f = open(path, "w")
+			except:
+				f = open(path, "a+")
 			for l in lines:
 				if l.startswith("%s=" % key):
 					val = genstatusstring(key, status)