diff --git a/nvim/init.vim b/nvim/init.vim
index d626686..75547a2 100644
--- a/nvim/init.vim
+++ b/nvim/init.vim
@@ -133,8 +133,21 @@ local function check_plugin_updates()
         return command
     end
 
+    local function set_airline_status(message)
+        vim.g.plugin_update_status = message
+        local marker = '%{get(g:,"plugin_update_status","")}'
+        local warning = vim.g.airline_section_warning or ''
+        if not string.find(warning, 'plugin_update_status', 1, true) then
+            vim.g.airline_section_warning = warning .. ' ' .. marker
+        end
+        if vim.fn.exists(':AirlineRefresh') == 2 then
+            vim.cmd('AirlineRefresh')
+        end
+    end
+
     local function report()
         if #updates > 0 then
+            set_airline_status(string.format('[updates: %d]', #updates))
             local message = string.format(
                 '%d plugin update%s available: %s',
                 #updates,
@@ -146,11 +159,13 @@ local function check_plugin_updates()
             end
             vim.notify(message, failures > 0 and vim.log.levels.WARN or vim.log.levels.INFO)
         elseif failures > 0 then
+            set_airline_status('[update check failed]')
             vim.notify(
                 string.format('Plugin update check incomplete: %d check%s failed', failures, failures == 1 and '' or 's'),
                 vim.log.levels.WARN
             )
         else
+            set_airline_status('')
             vim.notify('All plugins up-to-date', vim.log.levels.INFO)
         end
     end