diff --git a/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh-6.2p2/init b/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh-6.2p2/init
index 12fb79bd7c..266689c2cf 100644
--- a/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh-6.2p2/init
+++ b/meta/recipes-connectivity/openssh/openssh-6.2p2/init
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #! /bin/sh
 set -e
 
+# source function library
+. /etc/init.d/functions
+
 # /etc/init.d/ssh: start and stop the OpenBSD "secure shell" daemon
 
 test -x /usr/sbin/sshd || exit 0
@@ -92,8 +95,13 @@ case "$1" in
 	echo "."
 	;;
 
+  status)
+	status /usr/sbin/sshd
+	return $?
+  ;;
+
   *)
-	echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/ssh {start|stop|reload|force-reload|restart}"
+	echo "Usage: /etc/init.d/ssh {start|stop|status|reload|force-reload|restart}"
 	exit 1
 esac