diff --git a/scripts/render.py b/scripts/render.py
index fd4a7406..655da5be 100755
--- a/scripts/render.py
+++ b/scripts/render.py
@@ -419,6 +419,10 @@ class JobRenderer(threading.Thread):
             except Exception as e:
                 LOG.warning("PNG color reduction failed: %s" % e)
 
+    def _status_update(self, msg):
+        self.job.renderstep = msg
+        self.job.save()
+
     def run(self):
         """Renders the given job, encapsulating all processing errors and
         exceptions.
@@ -438,6 +442,8 @@ class JobRenderer(threading.Thread):
             result_file_prefix = os.path.join(RENDERING_RESULT_PATH, self.job.files_prefix())
             os.makedirs(os.path.dirname(result_file_prefix), exist_ok=True)
 
+            config.status_update = self._status_update
+
             # TODO have the create form provide this
             config.origin_url = 'https://print.get-map.org' + self.job.get_absolute_url()
 
diff --git a/www/maposmatic/views.py b/www/maposmatic/views.py
index 390dce1a..3723d91a 100644
--- a/www/maposmatic/views.py
+++ b/www/maposmatic/views.py
@@ -702,5 +702,5 @@ def api_rendering_status(request, id, nonce=None):
                                 'refresh':    refresh,
                                 'progress':   progress,
                                 'queue_size': queue_size,
-                                'status':     'working'
+                                'status':     job.renderstep or "working",
                               })