diff --git a/lib/Explain.pm b/lib/Explain.pm
index f9e2a15..7fcb0c9 100755
--- a/lib/Explain.pm
+++ b/lib/Explain.pm
@@ -41,6 +41,9 @@ sub startup {
     # route: 'index'
     $routes->route( '/' )->to( 'controller#index' )->name( 'new-explain' );
 
+    # route: 'status'
+    $routes->route( '/status' )->to( 'controller#status' )->name( 'status' );
+
     # route: 'new-optimization'
     $routes->route( '/new_optimization' )->to( 'controller#new_optimization' )->name( 'new-optimization' );
 
diff --git a/lib/Explain/Controller.pm b/lib/Explain/Controller.pm
index 007e9e3..16d9c99 100755
--- a/lib/Explain/Controller.pm
+++ b/lib/Explain/Controller.pm
@@ -412,6 +412,15 @@ sub info {
 
 }
 
+sub status {
+    my $self = shift;
+    if ($self->database->ping()) {
+        $self->render('text' => 'OK', status => 200);
+    } else {
+        $self->render('text' => 'DB FAILED', status => 500);
+    }
+}
+
 sub help {
 
     # direct to template
diff --git a/lib/Explain/Plugin/Database.pm b/lib/Explain/Plugin/Database.pm
index 82f0740..43119f3 100755
--- a/lib/Explain/Plugin/Database.pm
+++ b/lib/Explain/Plugin/Database.pm
@@ -223,6 +223,11 @@ sub save_with_random_name {
     return @row;
 }
 
+sub ping {
+    my $self = shift;
+    return $self->dbh->ping();
+}
+
 sub get_plan_data {
     my $self = shift;
     my ( $plan_id ) = @_;