diff --git a/doorUtil.py b/doorUtil.py
index 22e6b0c..1feb77f 100644
--- a/doorUtil.py
+++ b/doorUtil.py
@@ -52,6 +52,13 @@ def lockOrUnlockDoor(targetIP, lock=True):
                  "command": "lockDoor" if lock else "unlockDoor"}))
     return doXMLRequest(targetIP, el)
 
+def getStatus(targetIP):
+    el = E_plain.VertXMessage(
+        E.Doors({"action": "LR", "responseFormat": "status"}))
+    xml = doXMLRequest(targetIP, el)
+    relayState = xml.find('./{*}Doors/{*}Door').attrib['relayState']
+    return "unlocked" if relayState == "set" else "locked"
+
 def forEachDoor(fxn):
     for doorName, doorData in config["doors"].items():
         print(doorName)