diff --git a/ui/build/ninja.go b/ui/build/ninja.go
index c8f19d10e..ab15e863a 100644
--- a/ui/build/ninja.go
+++ b/ui/build/ninja.go
@@ -97,6 +97,7 @@ func runNinja(ctx Context, config Config) {
 		}
 	}()
 
+	ctx.Status.Status("Starting ninja...")
 	cmd.RunAndPrintOrFatal()
 }
 
diff --git a/ui/status/status.go b/ui/status/status.go
index c851d7f59..46ec72e80 100644
--- a/ui/status/status.go
+++ b/ui/status/status.go
@@ -260,6 +260,10 @@ func (s *Status) message(level MsgLevel, msg string) {
 	}
 }
 
+func (s *Status) Status(msg string) {
+	s.message(StatusLvl, msg)
+}
+
 type toolStatus struct {
 	status *Status