diff --git a/cli/cluster/cluster.go b/cli/cluster/cluster.go
index 64a8b76a29ce..faf61dcbd915 100644
--- a/cli/cluster/cluster.go
+++ b/cli/cluster/cluster.go
@@ -98,6 +98,29 @@ func DeleteHost(api libmachine.API) error {
 	return m.ToError()
 }
 
+// GetHostStatus gets the status of the host VM.
+func GetHostStatus(api libmachine.API) (string, error) {
+	dne := "Does Not Exist"
+	exists, err := api.Exists(constants.MachineName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	if !exists {
+		return dne, nil
+	}
+
+	host, err := api.Load(constants.MachineName)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+
+	s, err := host.Driver.GetState()
+	if s.String() == "" {
+		return dne, err
+	}
+	return s.String(), err
+}
+
 type sshAble interface {
 	RunSSHCommand(string) (string, error)
 }
diff --git a/cli/cluster/cluster_test.go b/cli/cluster/cluster_test.go
index 55eaa73f6260..d35f6dc49ed8 100644
--- a/cli/cluster/cluster_test.go
+++ b/cli/cluster/cluster_test.go
@@ -233,3 +233,25 @@ func TestDeleteHostMultipleErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestGetHostStatus(t *testing.T) {
+	api := &tests.MockAPI{}
+
+	checkState := func(expected string) {
+		s, err := GetHostStatus(api)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("Unexpected error getting status: %s", s)
+		}
+		if s != expected {
+			t.Fatalf("Expected status: %s, got %s", s, expected)
+		}
+	}
+
+	checkState("Does Not Exist")
+
+	createHost(api)
+	checkState(state.Running.String())
+
+	StopHost(api)
+	checkState(state.Stopped.String())
+}
diff --git a/cli/cmd/delete.go b/cli/cmd/delete.go
index 83bf76d39bac..6f93f6256688 100644
--- a/cli/cmd/delete.go
+++ b/cli/cmd/delete.go
@@ -1,16 +1,15 @@
-// Copyright © 2016 NAME HERE <EMAIL ADDRESS>
-//
-// Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
-// you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
-// You may obtain a copy of the License at
-//
-//     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
-//
-// Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
-// distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
-// WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
-// See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
-// limitations under the License.
+/*
+Copyright 2015 The Kubernetes Authors All rights reserved.
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
 
 package cmd
 
diff --git a/cli/cmd/status.go b/cli/cmd/status.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..491bafa5f042
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cli/cmd/status.go
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+/*
+Copyright 2015 The Kubernetes Authors All rights reserved.
+Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+You may obtain a copy of the License at
+    http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+limitations under the License.
+*/
+
+package cmd
+
+import (
+	"log"
+	"os"
+
+	"github.com/docker/machine/libmachine"
+	"github.com/kubernetes/minikube/cli/cluster"
+	"github.com/kubernetes/minikube/cli/constants"
+	"github.com/spf13/cobra"
+)
+
+// statusCmd represents the status command
+var statusCmd = &cobra.Command{
+	Use:   "status",
+	Short: "Gets the status of a local kubernetes cluster.",
+	Long:  `Gets the status of a local kubernetes cluster.`,
+	Run: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
+		api := libmachine.NewClient(constants.Minipath, constants.MakeMiniPath("certs"))
+		defer api.Close()
+		s, err := cluster.GetHostStatus(api)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Println("Error getting machine status:", err)
+			os.Exit(1)
+		}
+		log.Println("Status:", s)
+	},
+}
+
+func init() {
+	RootCmd.AddCommand(statusCmd)
+}