diff --git a/debian/changelog b/debian/changelog
index 0521481c..ae5a9e3d 100644
--- a/debian/changelog
+++ b/debian/changelog
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ byobu (5.63) unreleased; urgency=low
   * usr/bin/byobu: LP: #1244981
     - let's use our symlink for SSH_AUTH_SOCK, for consistency across
       sessions
+  * usr/bin/byobu-status: LP: #1233407
+    - ensure status icons are customizable by end users
 
  -- Dustin Kirkland <kirkland@ubuntu.com>  Fri, 01 Nov 2013 15:27:51 -0500
 
diff --git a/usr/bin/byobu-status b/usr/bin/byobu-status
index 6efa2362..c4684aa8 100755
--- a/usr/bin/byobu-status
+++ b/usr/bin/byobu-status
@@ -31,10 +31,10 @@ PKG="byobu"
 [ -d "$BYOBU_RUN_DIR/.last.$BYOBU_BACKEND" ] || mkdir -p "$BYOBU_RUN_DIR/.last.$BYOBU_BACKEND"
 
 # Source configurations
+. "${BYOBU_PREFIX}/lib/${PKG}/include/icons"
 for i in "${BYOBU_PREFIX}/share/$PKG/status/status" "${BYOBU_PREFIX}/share/$PKG/status/statusrc" "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR/status" "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR/statusrc" "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR/color" "$BYOBU_CONFIG_DIR/color.tmux"; do
 	[ -r "$i" ] && . "$i"
 done
-. "${BYOBU_PREFIX}/lib/${PKG}/include/icons"
 
 case "$BYOBU_BACKEND" in
 	screen)