diff --git a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/nodes/Node.js b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/nodes/Node.js
index b7d44c7b5..b1003d717 100644
--- a/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/nodes/Node.js
+++ b/packages/node_modules/@node-red/runtime/lib/nodes/Node.js
@@ -306,8 +306,11 @@ Node.prototype.metric = function(eventname, msg, metricValue) {
 
 /**
  * status: { fill:"red|green", shape:"dot|ring", text:"blah" }
+ * or
+ * status: "simple text status"
  */
 Node.prototype.status = function(status) {
+    if (typeof(status) === "string") { status = {text:status}; }
     this._flow.handleStatus(this,status);
 };