diff --git a/actions/actions.py b/actions/actions.py
index 778adfe..4dadaf6 100755
--- a/actions/actions.py
+++ b/actions/actions.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import sys
 import yaml
 
 from charmhelpers.core.host import service_pause
-from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import action_fail
+from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import action_fail, status_set
 
 from lib.swift_storage_utils import SWIFT_SVCS
 
@@ -29,6 +29,8 @@ def pause(args):
         stopped = service_pause(service)
         if not stopped:
             raise Exception("{} didn't stop cleanly.".format(service))
+    status_set(
+        "maintenance", "Paused. Use 'resume' action to resume normal service.")
 
 
 # A dictionary of all the defined actions to callables (which take
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_actions.py b/unit_tests/test_actions.py
index a73d48c..df51022 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_actions.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_actions.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ import actions.actions
 class PauseTestCase(CharmTestCase):
 
     def setUp(self):
-        super(PauseTestCase, self).setUp(actions.actions, ["service_pause"])
+        super(PauseTestCase, self).setUp(
+            actions.actions, ["service_pause", "status_set"])
 
     def test_pauses_services(self):
         """Pause action pauses all of the Swift services."""
@@ -59,6 +60,26 @@ class PauseTestCase(CharmTestCase):
                                        'swift-account-replicator',
                                        'swift-account-server'])
 
+    def test_status_mode(self):
+        """Pause action sets the status to maintenance."""
+        status_calls = []
+        self.status_set.side_effect = lambda state, msg: status_calls.append(
+            state)
+
+        actions.actions.pause([])
+        self.assertEqual(status_calls, ["maintenance"])
+
+    def test_status_message(self):
+        """Pause action sets a status message reflecting that it's paused."""
+        status_calls = []
+        self.status_set.side_effect = lambda state, msg: status_calls.append(
+            msg)
+
+        actions.actions.pause([])
+        self.assertEqual(
+            status_calls, ["Paused. "
+                           "Use 'resume' action to resume normal service."])
+
 
 class GetActionParserTestCase(unittest.TestCase):