diff --git a/mitterlib/ui/helpers/gtk_updatebox.py b/mitterlib/ui/helpers/gtk_updatebox.py
index c8564eb..6ecb5f2 100644
--- a/mitterlib/ui/helpers/gtk_updatebox.py
+++ b/mitterlib/ui/helpers/gtk_updatebox.py
@@ -44,6 +44,10 @@ class UpdateBox(gtk.VBox):
 
     __gsignals__ = {
             'text-focus': (
+                gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_LAST,
+                gobject.TYPE_NONE,
+                ()),
+            'status-updated': (
                 gobject.SIGNAL_RUN_LAST,
                 gobject.TYPE_NONE,
                 ())}
@@ -67,13 +71,14 @@ class UpdateBox(gtk.VBox):
 
         add_button = gtk.Button(stock=gtk.STOCK_OK)
         add_button.set_relief(gtk.RELIEF_NONE);
+        add_button.connect('clicked', self.do_update)
 
         status_bar = gtk.HBox(False, 0)
         status_bar.pack_start(self._update_status, expand=True, fill=False,
                 padding=0)
         status_bar.pack_start(self._update_info, expand=True, fill=False,
                 padding=0)
-        status_bar.pack_start(add_button, expand=false, fill=False, padding=0)
+        status_bar.pack_start(add_button, expand=False, fill=False, padding=0)
         status_bar.pack_start(close_button, expand=False, fill=False,
                 padding=0)
 
@@ -155,3 +160,8 @@ class UpdateBox(gtk.VBox):
         self.avatar.set_from_pixbuf(pixbuf)
     # pixbuf can only be set, not get.
     pixbuf = property(None, _set_pixbuf)
+
+    def do_update(self, widget=None):
+        text = self._text.get_buffer()
+        self.emit('status-updated')
+        return
diff --git a/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py b/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py
index 9c92614..20d1fa7 100644
--- a/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py
+++ b/mitterlib/ui/ui_pygtk.py
@@ -89,6 +89,7 @@ class Interface(object):
         self._update_field = UpdateBox(
                 self._images['avatar'],
                 self._options[self.NAMESPACE]['spell_check'])
+        self._update_field.connect('status-updated', self._update_status)
         self._statusbar = SmartStatusbar()
 
         # the messages grid
@@ -498,6 +499,7 @@ class Interface(object):
     def _update_status(self, widget):
         """Update your status."""
         if not self._update_field.get_property('visible'):
+            # update box is not visible; show it.
             self._update_field.show()
             return