diff --git a/src/vs/platform/issue/common/issue.ts b/src/vs/platform/issue/common/issue.ts
index 90c4b4356ce..0058f556840 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/issue/common/issue.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/issue/common/issue.ts
@@ -89,4 +89,5 @@ export interface IIssueService {
 	_serviceBrand: any;
 	openReporter(data: IssueReporterData): Promise<void>;
 	openProcessExplorer(data: ProcessExplorerData): Promise<void>;
+	getSystemStatus(): Promise<string>;
 }
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-browser/issueService.ts b/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-browser/issueService.ts
index 67ba09b24ad..e9d287e7628 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-browser/issueService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-browser/issueService.ts
@@ -25,4 +25,8 @@ export class IssueService implements IIssueService {
 	openProcessExplorer(data: ProcessExplorerData): Promise<void> {
 		return this.channel.call('openProcessExplorer', data);
 	}
+
+	getSystemStatus(): Promise<string> {
+		return this.channel.call('getSystemStatus');
+	}
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-main/issueService.ts b/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-main/issueService.ts
index fffbff2be7b..390000c83c0 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-main/issueService.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/issue/electron-main/issueService.ts
@@ -214,6 +214,10 @@ export class IssueService implements IIssueService {
 		});
 	}
 
+	public getSystemStatus(): Promise<string> {
+		return Promise.resolve('To be filled in'); // todo
+	}
+
 	private getWindowPosition(parentWindow: BrowserWindow, defaultWidth: number, defaultHeight: number): IWindowState {
 		// We want the new window to open on the same display that the parent is in
 		let displayToUse: Electron.Display | undefined;
diff --git a/src/vs/platform/issue/node/issueIpc.ts b/src/vs/platform/issue/node/issueIpc.ts
index 0bd7dd34f99..4eca97ef53c 100644
--- a/src/vs/platform/issue/node/issueIpc.ts
+++ b/src/vs/platform/issue/node/issueIpc.ts
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ export class IssueChannel implements IServerChannel {
 				return this.service.openReporter(arg);
 			case 'openProcessExplorer':
 				return this.service.openProcessExplorer(arg);
+			case 'getSystemStatus':
+				return this.service.getSystemStatus();
 		}
 
 		throw new Error(`Call not found: ${command}`);
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostCLIServer.ts b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostCLIServer.ts
index b19e1b498bc..1ea105ad33c 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostCLIServer.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/api/node/extHostCLIServer.ts
@@ -22,6 +22,10 @@ export interface OpenCommandPipeArgs {
 	waitMarkerFilePath?: string;
 }
 
+export interface StatusPipeArgs {
+	type: 'status';
+}
+
 export class CLIServer {
 
 	private _server: http.Server;
@@ -68,11 +72,14 @@ export class CLIServer {
 		req.setEncoding('utf8');
 		req.on('data', (d: string) => chunks.push(d));
 		req.on('end', () => {
-			const data: OpenCommandPipeArgs | any = JSON.parse(chunks.join(''));
+			const data: OpenCommandPipeArgs | StatusPipeArgs | any = JSON.parse(chunks.join(''));
 			switch (data.type) {
 				case 'open':
 					this.open(data, res);
 					break;
+				case 'status':
+					this.getStatus(data, res);
+					break;
 				default:
 					res.writeHead(404);
 					res.write(`Unkown message type: ${data.type}`, err => {
@@ -103,6 +110,23 @@ export class CLIServer {
 		res.end();
 	}
 
+	private async getStatus(data: StatusPipeArgs, res: http.ServerResponse) {
+		try {
+			const status = await this._commands.executeCommand('_issues.getSystemStatus');
+			res.writeHead(200);
+			res.write(status);
+			res.end();
+		} catch (err) {
+			res.writeHead(500);
+			res.write(String(err), err => {
+				if (err) {
+					console.error(err);
+				}
+			});
+			res.end();
+		}
+	}
+
 	dispose(): void {
 		this._server.close();
 
diff --git a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/issue/electron-browser/issue.contribution.ts b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/issue/electron-browser/issue.contribution.ts
index 9248eff97a8..e734abdc41b 100644
--- a/src/vs/workbench/contrib/issue/electron-browser/issue.contribution.ts
+++ b/src/vs/workbench/contrib/issue/electron-browser/issue.contribution.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ import { OpenIssueReporterAction, ReportPerformanceIssueUsingReporterAction, Ope
 import { registerSingleton } from 'vs/platform/instantiation/common/extensions';
 import { IWorkbenchIssueService } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/issue/electron-browser/issue';
 import { WorkbenchIssueService } from 'vs/workbench/contrib/issue/electron-browser/issueService';
+import { CommandsRegistry } from 'vs/platform/commands/common/commands';
+import { IIssueService } from 'vs/platform/issue/common/issue';
 
 const helpCategory = nls.localize('help', "Help");
 const workbenchActionsRegistry = Registry.as<IWorkbenchActionRegistry>(Extensions.WorkbenchActions);
@@ -24,4 +26,8 @@ if (!!product.reportIssueUrl) {
 const developerCategory = nls.localize('developer', "Developer");
 workbenchActionsRegistry.registerWorkbenchAction(new SyncActionDescriptor(OpenProcessExplorer, OpenProcessExplorer.ID, OpenProcessExplorer.LABEL), 'Developer: Open Process Explorer', developerCategory);
 
-registerSingleton(IWorkbenchIssueService, WorkbenchIssueService, true);
\ No newline at end of file
+registerSingleton(IWorkbenchIssueService, WorkbenchIssueService, true);
+
+CommandsRegistry.registerCommand('_issues.getSystemStatus', (accessor) => {
+	return accessor.get(IIssueService).getSystemStatus();
+});
\ No newline at end of file