diff --git a/site_ansto/anstohttp.c b/site_ansto/anstohttp.c
index d7e5ea36..016baf30 100644
--- a/site_ansto/anstohttp.c
+++ b/site_ansto/anstohttp.c
@@ -544,6 +544,8 @@ static int AnstoHttpStart(pHistDriver self, SConnection *pCon){
 static int AnstoHttpHalt(pHistDriver self){ // hmm, why isn't there a pCon like all the other ones...?
     pAnstoHttp pPriv = NULL;
     int status;
+    char checkstatus[20]="false";
+    int i;
 
     pPriv = (pAnstoHttp)self->pPriv;
     assert(pPriv != NULL);
@@ -553,7 +555,12 @@ static int AnstoHttpHalt(pHistDriver self){ // hmm, why isn't there a pCon like
         return HWFault;
     }
     
-    AnstoHttpStatusWithRetries(self,ANSTO_HS_STATUS_STOPPED,NULL); // no pCon available :(
+    //TODO check statuscheck flag
+
+    StringDictGet(self->pOption,"statuscheck",checkstatus,20); 
+    if (strcmp(checkstatus,"true") == 0) {
+      AnstoHttpStatusWithRetries(self,ANSTO_HS_STATUS_STOPPED,NULL); // no pCon available :(
+    }
     
     return OKOK;
 }
@@ -810,6 +817,7 @@ pHistDriver CreateAnstoHttpDriver(pStringDict pOption){
     /* add our options */
     StringDictAddPair(pOption,"hmaddress","http://localhost:8080");
     StringDictAddPair(pOption,"hmconfigurescript","anstohm_full.xml");
+    StringDictAddPair(pOption,"statuscheck","false");
 
     /* initialise our private data structure */
     pInternal = (pAnstoHttp)malloc(sizeof(anstoHttp));