diff --git a/hooks/neutron_ovs_hooks.py b/hooks/neutron_ovs_hooks.py
index 6f656368..53599536 100755
--- a/hooks/neutron_ovs_hooks.py
+++ b/hooks/neutron_ovs_hooks.py
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ from charmhelpers.core.host import (
 
 from charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.utils import (
     os_requires_version,
+    os_workload_status,
 )
 
 from neutron_ovs_utils import (
@@ -38,6 +39,8 @@ from neutron_ovs_utils import (
     enable_local_dhcp,
     install_packages,
     purge_packages,
+    REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+    check_optional_relations,
 )
 
 hooks = Hooks()
@@ -52,6 +55,8 @@ def install():
 
 @hooks.hook('neutron-plugin-relation-changed')
 @hooks.hook('config-changed')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 @restart_on_change(restart_map())
 def config_changed():
     install_packages()
@@ -68,6 +73,8 @@ def config_changed():
 
 
 @hooks.hook('neutron-plugin-api-relation-changed')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 @restart_on_change(restart_map())
 def neutron_plugin_api_changed():
     if use_dvr():
@@ -82,6 +89,8 @@ def neutron_plugin_api_changed():
 
 
 @hooks.hook('neutron-plugin-relation-joined')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 def neutron_plugin_joined(relation_id=None):
     if enable_local_dhcp():
         install_packages()
@@ -95,6 +104,8 @@ def neutron_plugin_joined(relation_id=None):
 
 
 @hooks.hook('amqp-relation-joined')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 def amqp_joined(relation_id=None):
     relation_set(relation_id=relation_id,
                  username=config('rabbit-user'),
@@ -103,6 +114,8 @@ def amqp_joined(relation_id=None):
 
 @hooks.hook('amqp-relation-changed')
 @hooks.hook('amqp-relation-departed')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 @restart_on_change(restart_map())
 def amqp_changed():
     if 'amqp' not in CONFIGS.complete_contexts():
@@ -112,6 +125,8 @@ def amqp_changed():
 
 
 @hooks.hook('zeromq-configuration-relation-joined')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 @os_requires_version('kilo', 'neutron-common')
 def zeromq_configuration_relation_joined(relid=None):
     relation_set(relation_id=relid,
@@ -120,6 +135,8 @@ def zeromq_configuration_relation_joined(relid=None):
 
 
 @hooks.hook('zeromq-configuration-relation-changed')
+@os_workload_status(CONFIGS, REQUIRED_INTERFACES,
+                    charm_func=check_optional_relations)
 @restart_on_change(restart_map(), stopstart=True)
 def zeromq_configuration_relation_changed():
     CONFIGS.write_all()
diff --git a/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py b/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py
index 347fd4b9..9f09987e 100644
--- a/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py
+++ b/hooks/neutron_ovs_utils.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.utils import (
     git_clone_and_install,
     git_src_dir,
     git_pip_venv_dir,
+    set_os_workload_status,
 )
 from collections import OrderedDict
 from charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.utils import (
@@ -23,6 +24,8 @@ from charmhelpers.contrib.network.ovs import (
 )
 from charmhelpers.core.hookenv import (
     config,
+    status_set,
+    status_get,
 )
 from charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.neutron import (
     parse_bridge_mappings,
@@ -52,6 +55,15 @@ from charmhelpers.fetch import (
     filter_installed_packages,
 )
 
+# The interface is said to be satisfied if anyone of the interfaces in the
+# list has a complete context.
+# LY: Note the neutron-plugin is always present since that is the relation
+#     with the principle and no data currently flows down from the principle
+#     so there is no point in having it in REQUIRED_INTERFACES
+REQUIRED_INTERFACES = {
+    'messaging': ['amqp', 'zeromq-configuration'],
+}
+
 BASE_GIT_PACKAGES = [
     'libffi-dev',
     'libssl-dev',
@@ -140,6 +152,7 @@ DATA_BRIDGE = 'br-data'
 
 
 def install_packages():
+    status_set('maintenance', 'Installing apt packages')
     apt_update()
     # NOTE(jamespage): ensure early install of dkms related
     #                  dependencies for kernels which need
@@ -151,6 +164,7 @@ def install_packages():
 
 
 def purge_packages(pkg_list):
+    status_set('maintenance', 'Purging unused apt packages')
     purge_pkgs = []
     required_packages = determine_packages()
     for pkg in pkg_list:
@@ -229,6 +243,7 @@ def get_topics():
 
 
 def configure_ovs():
+    status_set('maintenance', 'Configuring ovs')
     if not service_running('openvswitch-switch'):
         full_restart()
     add_bridge(INT_BRIDGE)
@@ -275,6 +290,7 @@ def enable_local_dhcp():
 
 def git_install(projects_yaml):
     """Perform setup, and install git repos specified in yaml parameter."""
+    status_set('maintenance', 'running git install')
     if git_install_requested():
         git_pre_install()
         git_clone_and_install(projects_yaml, core_project='neutron')
@@ -364,3 +380,14 @@ def git_post_install(projects_yaml):
            neutron_ovs_cleanup_context, perms=0o644)
 
     service_restart('neutron-plugin-openvswitch-agent')
+
+
+def check_optional_relations(configs):
+    required_interfaces = {}
+    if enable_nova_metadata():
+        required_interfaces['neutron-plugin-api'] = ['neutron-plugin-api']
+    if required_interfaces:
+        set_os_workload_status(configs, required_interfaces)
+        return status_get()
+    else:
+        return 'unknown', 'No optional relations'
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py b/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py
index a3b26b52..0125cffa 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_neutron_ovs_utils.py
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ TO_PATCH = [
     'ExternalPortContext',
     'determine_dkms_package',
     'headers_package',
+    'status_set',
 ]
 
 head_pkg = 'linux-headers-3.15.0-5-generic'
diff --git a/unit_tests/test_utils.py b/unit_tests/test_utils.py
index 86ee0f73..bbc71fb3 100644
--- a/unit_tests/test_utils.py
+++ b/unit_tests/test_utils.py
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import yaml
 from contextlib import contextmanager
 from mock import patch, MagicMock
 
+patch('charmhelpers.contrib.openstack.utils.set_os_workload_status').start()
+patch('charmhelpers.core.hookenv.status_set').start()
+
 
 def load_config():
     '''