diff --git a/src/gui/Window.cc b/src/gui/Window.cc
index b003a4e..03e851e 100644
--- a/src/gui/Window.cc
+++ b/src/gui/Window.cc
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@
 /* Process multiple queued events for up to this long before stopping to
  * redraw the screen. */
 #define MAX_EVENT_PROCESS_TIME 50000
+/* Amount of time until a status message fades out */
+#define STATUS_TIME 4000
 
 /**
  * Initialize OpenGL.
@@ -137,6 +139,7 @@ bool Window::create(std::shared_ptr<Buffer> buffer)
     m_command_buffer_pane->set_command_mode();
     m_command_buffer_screen_rows = 1;
     m_command_invalid = false;
+    m_status_message_timer = (size_t)-1;
 
     resize(INITIAL_WIDTH, INITIAL_HEIGHT);
 
@@ -213,6 +216,13 @@ void Window::handle_event(Jtk_Event & event)
             m_focused_buffer_pane->scroll_window_down(ScrollMode::WHEEL);
         }
         break;
+
+    case JTK_EVENT_TIMER:
+        if (event.timer.timer_id == m_status_message_timer)
+        {
+            handle_status_message_timer();
+        }
+        break;
     }
 }
 
@@ -265,6 +275,7 @@ void Window::handle_keypress(uint32_t keyval)
         }
         else
         {
+            clear_status();
             m_command_input.push_back(ctrl_keyval);
             evaluate_command_input();
         }
@@ -468,6 +479,10 @@ void Window::redraw()
     {
         m_command_buffer_pane->draw();
     }
+    else if (m_status_message_timer != (size_t)-1)
+    {
+        draw_status_message();
+    }
     else
     {
         draw_command_input();
@@ -476,6 +491,40 @@ void Window::redraw()
     Jtk_SwapBuffers(m_window);
 }
 
+void Window::draw_status_message()
+{
+    int x = 0;
+    uint64_t current_time = Jtk_UsTime();
+    float alpha;
+    if (((current_time - m_status_message_basetime) / 1000) < (STATUS_TIME / 2))
+    {
+        alpha = 1.0;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        alpha = 1.0 - (((current_time - m_status_message_basetime) / 1000) - (STATUS_TIME / 2)) / (float)(STATUS_TIME / 2);
+        if (alpha < 0.0)
+        {
+            alpha = 0.0;
+        }
+    }
+    for (size_t i = 0u, length = m_status_message.size(); i < length; i++)
+    {
+        m_gl->draw_character(x, 0, m_status_message[i], *m_font, 1.0, 1.0, 1.0, alpha);
+        x += m_font->get_advance();
+    }
+}
+
+void Window::handle_status_message_timer()
+{
+    if (((Jtk_UsTime() - m_status_message_basetime) / 1000) >= STATUS_TIME)
+    {
+        Jtk_RemoveTimer(m_status_message_timer);
+        m_status_message_timer = (size_t)-1;
+    }
+    m_redraw_requested = true;
+}
+
 void Window::draw_command_input()
 {
     int x = 0;
@@ -518,6 +567,23 @@ static bool is_number(const EncodedString & s)
     return true;
 }
 
+void Window::set_status(const std::string & status)
+{
+    clear_status();
+    m_status_message = status;
+    m_status_message_basetime = Jtk_UsTime();
+    m_status_message_timer = Jtk_AddTimer(STATUS_TIME / 2, 50u, nullptr, nullptr);
+}
+
+void Window::clear_status()
+{
+    if (m_status_message_timer != (size_t)-1)
+    {
+        Jtk_RemoveTimer(m_status_message_timer);
+        m_status_message_timer = (size_t)-1;
+    }
+}
+
 void Window::handle_command(const EncodedString & command)
 {
     CommandParser cp;
@@ -572,8 +638,16 @@ void Window::command_write_file(const CommandParser & cp)
     }
     if (path != "")
     {
-        buffer->write_to_file(Path::clean(path).c_str());
+        if (buffer->write_to_file(Path::clean(path).c_str()))
+        {
+            set_status("Wrote file");
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            set_status("Error writing file");
+        }
     }
+    m_redraw_requested = true;
 }
 
 void Window::command_quit(const CommandParser & cp)
diff --git a/src/gui/Window.h b/src/gui/Window.h
index d91a457..f739564 100644
--- a/src/gui/Window.h
+++ b/src/gui/Window.h
@@ -52,10 +52,14 @@ protected:
     void evaluate_command_input();
     bool check_insert_mode_command(uint32_t insert_mode_command);
     void execute_command(const Command & command);
+    void handle_status_message_timer();
     void draw_command_input();
+    void draw_status_message();
 
     void command_write_file(const CommandParser & cp);
     void command_quit(const CommandParser & cp);
+    void set_status(const std::string & status);
+    void clear_status();
 
     void * m_window;
     bool m_exit_requested;
@@ -74,6 +78,9 @@ protected:
     std::shared_ptr<Buffer> m_command_buffer;
     std::shared_ptr<BufferPane> m_command_buffer_pane;
     std::vector<uint32_t> m_command_input;
+    std::string m_status_message;
+    size_t m_status_message_timer;
+    uint64_t m_status_message_basetime;
     bool m_command_invalid;
 };