diff --git a/src/callback.c b/src/callback.c
index 2ffefcc7..9a1f64d5 100644
--- a/src/callback.c
+++ b/src/callback.c
@@ -2070,6 +2070,11 @@ int rstate; /* (reduced state, without ShiftMask) */
  }
 #endif
 
+ if((xctx->ui_state & MENUSTART) && (xctx->ui_state2 & MENUSTARTWIRE)) { 
+    tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.10 configure -state active -text {WIRE READY TO DRAW! }", NULL);
+ } else {
+    tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.10 configure -state normal -text { }", NULL);
+ }
  tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.7 configure -text $netlist_type", NULL);
  tclvareval(xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.3 delete 0 end;",
                      xctx->top_path, ".statusbar.3 insert 0 $cadsnap",
diff --git a/src/xschem.tcl b/src/xschem.tcl
index 1732f10e..867e5b9d 100644
--- a/src/xschem.tcl
+++ b/src/xschem.tcl
@@ -7731,6 +7731,7 @@ proc pack_widgets { { topwin {} } } {
     pack $topwin.statusbar.6 -side left 
     pack $topwin.statusbar.7 -side left 
     pack $topwin.statusbar.10 -side left 
+    pack $topwin.statusbar.11 -side left
     pack $topwin.statusbar.9 -side left 
     pack $topwin.statusbar.8 -side left 
     pack $topwin.statusbar.1 -side left -fill x
@@ -8471,7 +8472,8 @@ tclcommand=\"xschem raw_read \$netlist_dir/[file tail [file rootname [xschem get
   entry_replace_selection $topwin.statusbar.5
   label $topwin.statusbar.6 -text "MODE:"
   label $topwin.statusbar.7 -width 7 
-  label $topwin.statusbar.10 -text {Stretch:}
+  label $topwin.statusbar.11 -text {Stretch:}
+  label $topwin.statusbar.10 -activebackground blue -text {}
   label $topwin.statusbar.9 -textvariable enable_stretch
   label $topwin.statusbar.8 -activebackground red -text {} 
   add_toolbuttons $topwin