diff --git a/common/asshelp.h b/common/asshelp.h
index bf1bd1705..c2c87e3c4 100644
--- a/common/asshelp.h
+++ b/common/asshelp.h
@@ -82,8 +82,14 @@ gpg_error_t get_assuan_server_version (assuan_context_t ctx,
 
 /*-- asshelp2.c --*/
 
+void set_assuan_context_func (assuan_context_t (*func)(ctrl_t ctrl));
+
 /* Helper function to print an assuan status line using a printf
    format string.  */
+
+gpg_error_t status_printf (ctrl_t ctrl, int no, const char *format,
+                           ...) GPGRT_ATTR_PRINTF(3,4);
+
 gpg_error_t print_assuan_status (assuan_context_t ctx,
                                  const char *keyword,
                                  const char *format,
diff --git a/common/asshelp2.c b/common/asshelp2.c
index 0a7c4549d..32e60dfb0 100644
--- a/common/asshelp2.c
+++ b/common/asshelp2.c
@@ -36,6 +36,24 @@
 
 #include "util.h"
 #include "asshelp.h"
+#include "status.h"
+
+
+/* A variable with a function to be used to return the current assuan
+ * context for a CTRL variable.  This needs to be set using the
+ * set_assuan_ctx_func function.  */
+static assuan_context_t (*the_assuan_ctx_func)(ctrl_t ctrl);
+
+
+/* Set FUNC to be used as a mapping fucntion from CTRL to an assuan
+ * context.  Pass NULL for FUNC to disable the use of the assuan
+ * context in this module.  */
+void
+set_assuan_context_func (assuan_context_t (*func)(ctrl_t ctrl))
+{
+  the_assuan_ctx_func = func;
+}
+
 
 /* Helper function to print an assuan status line using a printf
    format string.  */
@@ -134,3 +152,22 @@ print_assuan_status_strings (assuan_context_t ctx, const char *keyword, ...)
   va_end (arg_ptr);
   return err;
 }
+
+
+/* This function is similar to print_assuan_status but takes a CTRL
+ * arg instead of an assuan context as first argument.  */
+gpg_error_t
+status_printf (ctrl_t ctrl, int no, const char *format, ...)
+{
+  gpg_error_t err;
+  va_list arg_ptr;
+  assuan_context_t ctx;
+
+  if (!ctrl || !the_assuan_ctx_func || !(ctx = the_assuan_ctx_func (ctrl)))
+    return 0;
+
+  va_start (arg_ptr, format);
+  err = vprint_assuan_status (ctx, get_status_string (no), format, arg_ptr);
+  va_end (arg_ptr);
+  return err;
+}
diff --git a/po/Makevars b/po/Makevars
index 90b0c5b83..60a6fb36e 100644
--- a/po/Makevars
+++ b/po/Makevars
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ XGETTEXT_OPTIONS = \
         --flag=xasprintf:1:c-format   \
         --flag=xtryasprintf:1:c-format   \
         --flag=log_debug_with_string:2:c-format   \
+	--flag=status_printf:3:c-format  \
         --flag=print_assuan_status:3:c-format    \
         --flag=vprint_assuan_status:3:c-format   \
 	--flag=agent_print_status:3:c-format     \