diff --git a/gui/basewindow.cc b/gui/basewindow.cc
index 2463027a..5a53e9cf 100644
--- a/gui/basewindow.cc
+++ b/gui/basewindow.cc
@@ -145,6 +145,12 @@ void BaseMainWindow::createMenusAndBars()
     addToolBar(Qt::TopToolBarArea, mainToolBar);
 
     statusBar = new QStatusBar();
+    progressBar = new QProgressBar(statusBar);
+    progressBar->setAlignment(Qt::AlignRight);
+    progressBar->setMaximumSize(180, 19);
+    statusBar->addPermanentWidget(progressBar);
+    progressBar->setValue(0);
+    progressBar->setEnabled(false);
     setStatusBar(statusBar);
 
     menu_File->addAction(actionNew);
diff --git a/gui/basewindow.h b/gui/basewindow.h
index 5c06fa6e..c98a0356 100644
--- a/gui/basewindow.h
+++ b/gui/basewindow.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <QStatusBar>
 #include <QTabWidget>
 #include <QToolBar>
+#include <QProgressBar>
 
 Q_DECLARE_METATYPE(std::string)
 
@@ -68,6 +69,7 @@ class BaseMainWindow : public QMainWindow
     QStatusBar *statusBar;
     QAction *actionNew;
     QAction *actionOpen;
+    QProgressBar *progressBar;
 };
 
 NEXTPNR_NAMESPACE_END