diff --git a/platform/commonUI/general/res/templates/indicator.html b/platform/commonUI/general/res/templates/indicator.html
index 06d0e4ec1e..2ddd4c29cf 100644
--- a/platform/commonUI/general/res/templates/indicator.html
+++ b/platform/commonUI/general/res/templates/indicator.html
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 <div class='status block'
+     title="{{ngModel.getDescription()}}"
      ng-click='ngModel.configure()'
      ng-class='ngModel.getClass()'>
     <span class="ui-symbol status-indicator"
diff --git a/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js b/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js
index 3d254d6861..5cc13a251f 100644
--- a/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js
+++ b/platform/persistence/src/CouchIndicator.js
@@ -85,6 +85,14 @@ define(
                  */
                 getText: function () {
                     return state.text;
+                },
+                /**
+                 * Get a longer-form description of the current connection
+                 * space, suitable for display in a tooltip
+                 * @returns {string} longer summary of connection status
+                 */
+                getDescription: function () {
+                    return state.description;
                 }
             };