diff --git a/hooks/odl_controller_hooks.py b/hooks/odl_controller_hooks.py
index fa3ea10..3170f1a 100755
--- a/hooks/odl_controller_hooks.py
+++ b/hooks/odl_controller_hooks.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ from charmhelpers.fetch import (
     configure_sources, apt_install, install_remote)
 
 from odl_controller_utils import write_mvn_config, process_odl_cmds
-from odl_controller_utils import PROFILES
+from odl_controller_utils import PROFILES, assess_status
 
 PACKAGES = ["default-jre-headless", "python-jinja2"]
 KARAF_PACKAGE = "opendaylight-karaf"
@@ -117,6 +117,7 @@ def main():
         hooks.execute(sys.argv)
     except UnregisteredHookError as e:
         log("Unknown hook {} - skipping.".format(e))
+    assess_status()
 
 
 @hooks.hook("ovsdb-manager-relation-joined")
diff --git a/hooks/odl_controller_utils.py b/hooks/odl_controller_utils.py
index 7dda86f..3a3011a 100644
--- a/hooks/odl_controller_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/odl_controller_utils.py
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ from os import environ
 import urlparse
 
 from charmhelpers.core.templating import render
-from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import config
+from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import config, status_set
 from charmhelpers.core.decorators import retry_on_exception
+from charmhelpers.core.host import service_running
 
 
 PROFILES = {
@@ -170,3 +171,11 @@ def process_odl_cmds(odl_cmds):
         for log_level in logging.keys():
             for target in logging[log_level]:
                 run_odl(["log:set", log_level, target])
+
+
+def assess_status():
+    '''Assess unit status and inform juju using status-set'''
+    if service_running('odl-controller'):
+        status_set('active', 'Unit is ready')
+    else:
+        status_set('blocked', 'ODL controller not running')
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_odl_controller_utils.py b/unit_tests/test_odl_controller_utils.py
index d18a9e6..0218a5a 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_odl_controller_utils.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_odl_controller_utils.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-from mock import patch, call
+from mock import patch, call, ANY
 from test_utils import CharmTestCase
 
 import odl_controller_utils as utils
@@ -105,3 +105,16 @@ class ODLControllerUtilsTests(CharmTestCase):
             call(["feature:install", "odl-l2switch-all"]),
             call(['log:set', 'TRACE', 'cosc-cvpn-ovs-rest'])
         ])
+
+    @patch.object(utils, 'service_running')
+    @patch.object(utils, 'status_set')
+    def test_assess_status(self, status_set, service_running):
+        service_running.return_value = False
+        utils.assess_status()
+        service_running.assert_called_with('odl-controller')
+        status_set.assert_called_with('blocked', ANY)
+
+        service_running.return_value = True
+        utils.assess_status()
+        service_running.assert_called_with('odl-controller')
+        status_set.assert_called_with('active', ANY)