diff --git a/api/api_full.go b/api/api_full.go
index 57ca5bcfd..dbe7462a8 100644
--- a/api/api_full.go
+++ b/api/api_full.go
@@ -277,6 +277,8 @@ type FullNode interface {
 	ClientListDeals(ctx context.Context) ([]DealInfo, error)
 	// ClientGetDealUpdates returns the status of updated deals
 	ClientGetDealUpdates(ctx context.Context) (<-chan DealInfo, error)
+	// ClientGetDealStatus returns status given a code
+	ClientGetDealStatus(ctx context.Context, statusCode uint64) (string, error)
 	// ClientHasLocal indicates whether a certain CID is locally stored.
 	ClientHasLocal(ctx context.Context, root cid.Cid) (bool, error)
 	// ClientFindData identifies peers that have a certain file, and returns QueryOffers (one per peer).
diff --git a/api/apistruct/struct.go b/api/apistruct/struct.go
index e302aa8dc..3e45fd7ef 100644
--- a/api/apistruct/struct.go
+++ b/api/apistruct/struct.go
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ type FullNodeStruct struct {
 		ClientMinerQueryOffer                     func(ctx context.Context, miner address.Address, root cid.Cid, piece *cid.Cid) (api.QueryOffer, error)            `perm:"read"`
 		ClientStartDeal                           func(ctx context.Context, params *api.StartDealParams) (*cid.Cid, error)                                          `perm:"admin"`
 		ClientGetDealInfo                         func(context.Context, cid.Cid) (*api.DealInfo, error)                                                             `perm:"read"`
+		ClientGetDealStatus                       func(context.Context, uint64) (string, error)                                                                     `perm:"read"`
 		ClientListDeals                           func(ctx context.Context) ([]api.DealInfo, error)                                                                 `perm:"write"`
 		ClientGetDealUpdates                      func(ctx context.Context) (<-chan api.DealInfo, error)                                                            `perm:"read"`
 		ClientRetrieve                            func(ctx context.Context, order api.RetrievalOrder, ref *api.FileRef) error                                       `perm:"admin"`
@@ -516,6 +517,10 @@ func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientGetDealInfo(ctx context.Context, deal cid.Cid) (*
 	return c.Internal.ClientGetDealInfo(ctx, deal)
 }
 
+func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientGetDealStatus(ctx context.Context, statusCode uint64) (string, error) {
+	return c.Internal.ClientGetDealStatus(ctx, statusCode)
+}
+
 func (c *FullNodeStruct) ClientListDeals(ctx context.Context) ([]api.DealInfo, error) {
 	return c.Internal.ClientListDeals(ctx)
 }
diff --git a/documentation/en/api-methods.md b/documentation/en/api-methods.md
index 3aeb6c096..e151ac696 100644
--- a/documentation/en/api-methods.md
+++ b/documentation/en/api-methods.md
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
   * [ClientFindData](#ClientFindData)
   * [ClientGenCar](#ClientGenCar)
   * [ClientGetDealInfo](#ClientGetDealInfo)
+  * [ClientGetDealStatus](#ClientGetDealStatus)
   * [ClientGetDealUpdates](#ClientGetDealUpdates)
   * [ClientHasLocal](#ClientHasLocal)
   * [ClientImport](#ClientImport)
@@ -972,6 +973,21 @@ Response:
 }
 ```
 
+### ClientGetDealStatus
+ClientGetDealStatus returns status given a code
+
+
+Perms: read
+
+Inputs:
+```json
+[
+  42
+]
+```
+
+Response: `"string value"`
+
 ### ClientGetDealUpdates
 ClientGetDealUpdates returns the status of updated deals
 
diff --git a/node/impl/client/client.go b/node/impl/client/client.go
index f04d310ce..0cd164826 100644
--- a/node/impl/client/client.go
+++ b/node/impl/client/client.go
@@ -878,3 +878,12 @@ func newDealInfo(v storagemarket.ClientDeal) api.DealInfo {
 func (a *API) ClientRetrieveTryRestartInsufficientFunds(ctx context.Context, paymentChannel address.Address) error {
 	return a.Retrieval.TryRestartInsufficientFunds(paymentChannel)
 }
+
+func (a *API) ClientGetDealStatus(ctx context.Context, statusCode uint64) (string, error) {
+	ststr, ok := storagemarket.DealStates[statusCode]
+	if !ok {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("no such deal state %d", statusCode)
+	}
+
+	return ststr, nil
+}