diff --git a/src/CMakeLists.txt b/src/CMakeLists.txt
index 32db237..7a99eff 100644
--- a/src/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -105,6 +105,9 @@ target_sources(tomato PUBLIC
 	./tox_friend_faux_offline_messaging.hpp
 	./tox_friend_faux_offline_messaging.cpp
 
+	./status_indicator.hpp
+	./status_indicator.cpp
+
 	./chat_gui4.hpp
 	./chat_gui4.cpp
 
diff --git a/src/main_screen.cpp b/src/main_screen.cpp
index 8da67ca..63539a6 100644
--- a/src/main_screen.cpp
+++ b/src/main_screen.cpp
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ MainScreen::MainScreen(SimpleConfigModel&& conf_, SDL_Renderer* renderer_, Theme
 	contact_tc(tal, sdlrtu),
 	mil(),
 	msg_tc(mil, sdlrtu),
+	si(rmm, cr, SDL_GetRenderWindow(renderer_)),
 	cg(conf, os, rmm, cr, sdlrtu, contact_tc, msg_tc, theme),
 	sw(conf),
 	osui(os),
diff --git a/src/main_screen.hpp b/src/main_screen.hpp
index 59d3b7a..ae3b005 100644
--- a/src/main_screen.hpp
+++ b/src/main_screen.hpp
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include "./tox_avatar_loader.hpp"
 #include "./message_image_loader.hpp"
 
+#include "./status_indicator.hpp"
 #include "./chat_gui4.hpp"
 #include "./chat_gui/settings_window.hpp"
 #include "./object_store_ui.hpp"
@@ -91,6 +92,7 @@ struct MainScreen final : public Screen {
 	MessageImageLoader mil;
 	TextureCache<void*, Message3Handle, MessageImageLoader> msg_tc;
 
+	StatusIndicator si;
 	ChatGui4 cg;
 	SettingsWindow sw;
 	ObjectStoreUI osui;
diff --git a/src/status_indicator.cpp b/src/status_indicator.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab37bb9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/status_indicator.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+#include "./status_indicator.hpp"
+
+#include <solanaceae/contact/components.hpp>
+#include <solanaceae/message3/components.hpp>
+
+#include "./icon_generator.hpp"
+
+#include <memory>
+
+void StatusIndicator::updateState(State state) {
+	if (_state == state) {
+		return;
+	}
+
+	_state = state;
+
+	std::unique_ptr<SDL_Surface, decltype(&SDL_DestroySurface)> surf{nullptr, &SDL_DestroySurface};
+
+	switch (state) {
+		case State::base:
+			surf = {IconGenerator::base(), &SDL_DestroySurface};
+			break;
+		case State::unread:
+			surf = {IconGenerator::colorIndicator(1.f, .5f, 0.f, 1.f), &SDL_DestroySurface};
+			break;
+		case State::none:
+			break;
+	}
+
+	SDL_SetWindowIcon(_main_window, surf.get());
+}
+
+StatusIndicator::StatusIndicator(
+	RegistryMessageModelI& rmm,
+	Contact3Registry& cr,
+	SDL_Window* main_window
+) :
+	_rmm(rmm),
+	_cr(cr),
+	_main_window(main_window)
+{
+	// start off with base icon
+	updateState(State::base);
+}
+
+void StatusIndicator::render(float delta) {
+	_cooldown -= delta;
+	if (_cooldown <= 0.f) {
+		_cooldown = 1.f; // once a second
+
+		bool has_unread = false;
+		for (const auto& c : _cr.view<Contact::Components::TagBig>()) {
+			// maybe cache mm?
+			if (const auto* mm = _rmm.get(c); mm != nullptr) {
+				if (const auto* unread_storage = mm->storage<Message::Components::TagUnread>(); unread_storage != nullptr && !unread_storage->empty()) {
+					has_unread = true;
+					break;
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
+		if (has_unread) {
+			updateState(State::unread);
+		} else {
+			updateState(State::base);
+		}
+	}
+}
+
diff --git a/src/status_indicator.hpp b/src/status_indicator.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..29e852f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/status_indicator.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <solanaceae/message3/registry_message_model.hpp>
+
+#include <SDL3/SDL.h>
+
+// service that sets window and tray icon depending on program state
+
+class StatusIndicator {
+	RegistryMessageModelI& _rmm;
+	Contact3Registry& _cr;
+
+	SDL_Window* _main_window;
+	// systray ptr here
+
+	float _cooldown {1.f};
+
+	enum class State {
+		base,
+		unread,
+		none, // only used for initialization
+	} _state = State::none;
+
+	void updateState(State state);
+
+	public:
+		StatusIndicator(
+			RegistryMessageModelI& rmm,
+			Contact3Registry& cr,
+			SDL_Window* main_window
+		);
+
+		// does not actually render, just on the render thread
+		void render(float delta);
+};
+