diff --git a/git-gui.sh b/git-gui.sh
index 516bd972ec..88ef64337a 100755
--- a/git-gui.sh
+++ b/git-gui.sh
@@ -527,7 +527,7 @@ proc PARENT {} {
 
 proc rescan {after {honor_trustmtime 1}} {
 	global HEAD PARENT MERGE_HEAD commit_type
-	global ui_index ui_workdir ui_status_value ui_comm
+	global ui_index ui_workdir ui_comm
 	global rescan_active file_states
 	global repo_config
 
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ proc rescan {after {honor_trustmtime 1}} {
 		rescan_stage2 {} $after
 	} else {
 		set rescan_active 1
-		set ui_status_value {Refreshing file status...}
+		ui_status {Refreshing file status...}
 		set cmd [list git update-index]
 		lappend cmd -q
 		lappend cmd --unmerged
@@ -580,7 +580,6 @@ proc rescan {after {honor_trustmtime 1}} {
 }
 
 proc rescan_stage2 {fd after} {
-	global ui_status_value
 	global rescan_active buf_rdi buf_rdf buf_rlo
 
 	if {$fd ne {}} {
@@ -601,7 +600,7 @@ proc rescan_stage2 {fd after} {
 	set buf_rlo {}
 
 	set rescan_active 3
-	set ui_status_value {Scanning for modified files ...}
+	ui_status {Scanning for modified files ...}
 	set fd_di [open "| git diff-index --cached -z [PARENT]" r]
 	set fd_df [open "| git diff-files -z" r]
 	set fd_lo [open $ls_others r]
@@ -761,6 +760,16 @@ proc mapdesc {state path} {
 	return $r
 }
 
+proc ui_status {msg} {
+	set ::ui_status_value $msg
+}
+
+proc ui_ready {{test {}}} {
+	if {$test eq {} || $::ui_status_value eq $test} {
+		ui_status Ready.
+	}
+}
+
 proc escape_path {path} {
 	regsub -all {\\} $path "\\\\" path
 	regsub -all "\n" $path "\\n" path
@@ -1112,7 +1121,7 @@ proc incr_font_size {font {amt 1}} {
 set starting_gitk_msg {Starting gitk... please wait...}
 
 proc do_gitk {revs} {
-	global env ui_status_value starting_gitk_msg
+	global env starting_gitk_msg
 
 	# -- Always start gitk through whatever we were loaded with.  This
 	#    lets us bypass using shell process on Windows systems.
@@ -1129,11 +1138,9 @@ proc do_gitk {revs} {
 		error_popup "Unable to start gitk:\n\n$exe does not exist"
 	} else {
 		eval exec $cmd &
-		set ui_status_value $starting_gitk_msg
+		ui_status $starting_gitk_msg
 		after 10000 {
-			if {$ui_status_value eq $starting_gitk_msg} {
-				set ui_status_value {Ready.}
-			}
+			ui_ready $starting_gitk_msg
 		}
 	}
 }
@@ -1182,7 +1189,7 @@ proc do_quit {} {
 }
 
 proc do_rescan {} {
-	rescan {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}
+	rescan ui_ready
 }
 
 proc do_commit {} {
@@ -1217,12 +1224,12 @@ proc toggle_or_diff {w x y} {
 			update_indexinfo \
 				"Unstaging [short_path $path] from commit" \
 				[list $path] \
-				[concat $after {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}]
+				[concat $after [list ui_ready]]
 		} elseif {$w eq $ui_workdir} {
 			update_index \
 				"Adding [short_path $path]" \
 				[list $path] \
-				[concat $after {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}]
+				[concat $after [list ui_ready]]
 		}
 	} else {
 		show_diff $path $w $lno
@@ -1640,20 +1647,19 @@ if {[is_MacOSX]} {
 	#
 	if {[is_Cygwin] && [file exists /usr/local/miga/lib/gui-miga]} {
 	proc do_miga {} {
-		global ui_status_value
 		if {![lock_index update]} return
 		set cmd [list sh --login -c "/usr/local/miga/lib/gui-miga \"[pwd]\""]
 		set miga_fd [open "|$cmd" r]
 		fconfigure $miga_fd -blocking 0
 		fileevent $miga_fd readable [list miga_done $miga_fd]
-		set ui_status_value {Running miga...}
+		ui_status {Running miga...}
 	}
 	proc miga_done {fd} {
 		read $fd 512
 		if {[eof $fd]} {
 			close $fd
 			unlock_index
-			rescan [list set ui_status_value {Ready.}]
+			rescan ui_ready
 		}
 	}
 	.mbar add cascade -label Tools -menu .mbar.tools
diff --git a/lib/commit.tcl b/lib/commit.tcl
index 0de2a28fa5..c5f608beb0 100644
--- a/lib/commit.tcl
+++ b/lib/commit.tcl
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ You are currently in the middle of a merge that has not been fully completed.  Y
 	$ui_comm insert end $msg
 	$ui_comm edit reset
 	$ui_comm edit modified false
-	rescan {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}
+	rescan ui_ready
 }
 
 set GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT {}
@@ -108,12 +108,12 @@ proc create_new_commit {} {
 	$ui_comm delete 0.0 end
 	$ui_comm edit reset
 	$ui_comm edit modified false
-	rescan {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}
+	rescan ui_ready
 }
 
 proc commit_tree {} {
 	global HEAD commit_type file_states ui_comm repo_config
-	global ui_status_value pch_error
+	global pch_error
 
 	if {[committer_ident] eq {}} return
 	if {![lock_index update]} return
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ Another Git program has modified this repository since the last scan.  A rescan
 The rescan will be automatically started now.
 }
 		unlock_index
-		rescan {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}
+		rescan ui_ready
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ A good commit message has the following format:
 		return
 	}
 
-	set ui_status_value {Calling pre-commit hook...}
+	ui_status {Calling pre-commit hook...}
 	set pch_error {}
 	set fd_ph [open "| $pchook" r]
 	fconfigure $fd_ph -blocking 0 -translation binary
@@ -215,13 +215,13 @@ A good commit message has the following format:
 }
 
 proc commit_prehook_wait {fd_ph curHEAD msg} {
-	global pch_error ui_status_value
+	global pch_error
 
 	append pch_error [read $fd_ph]
 	fconfigure $fd_ph -blocking 1
 	if {[eof $fd_ph]} {
 		if {[catch {close $fd_ph}]} {
-			set ui_status_value {Commit declined by pre-commit hook.}
+			ui_status {Commit declined by pre-commit hook.}
 			hook_failed_popup pre-commit $pch_error
 			unlock_index
 		} else {
@@ -234,9 +234,7 @@ proc commit_prehook_wait {fd_ph curHEAD msg} {
 }
 
 proc commit_writetree {curHEAD msg} {
-	global ui_status_value
-
-	set ui_status_value {Committing changes...}
+	ui_status {Committing changes...}
 	set fd_wt [open "| git write-tree" r]
 	fileevent $fd_wt readable \
 		[list commit_committree $fd_wt $curHEAD $msg]
@@ -244,15 +242,15 @@ proc commit_writetree {curHEAD msg} {
 
 proc commit_committree {fd_wt curHEAD msg} {
 	global HEAD PARENT MERGE_HEAD commit_type
-	global all_heads current_branch
-	global ui_status_value ui_comm selected_commit_type
+	global current_branch
+	global ui_comm selected_commit_type
 	global file_states selected_paths rescan_active
 	global repo_config
 
 	gets $fd_wt tree_id
 	if {$tree_id eq {} || [catch {close $fd_wt} err]} {
 		error_popup "write-tree failed:\n\n$err"
-		set ui_status_value {Commit failed.}
+		ui_status {Commit failed.}
 		unlock_index
 		return
 	}
@@ -269,7 +267,7 @@ No files were modified by this commit and it was not a merge commit.
 A rescan will be automatically started now.
 }
 			unlock_index
-			rescan {set ui_status_value {No changes to commit.}}
+			rescan {ui_status {No changes to commit.}}
 			return
 		}
 	}
@@ -294,7 +292,7 @@ A rescan will be automatically started now.
 	lappend cmd <$msg_p
 	if {[catch {set cmt_id [eval git $cmd]} err]} {
 		error_popup "commit-tree failed:\n\n$err"
-		set ui_status_value {Commit failed.}
+		ui_status {Commit failed.}
 		unlock_index
 		return
 	}
@@ -316,7 +314,7 @@ A rescan will be automatically started now.
 			git update-ref -m $reflogm HEAD $cmt_id $curHEAD
 		} err]} {
 		error_popup "update-ref failed:\n\n$err"
-		set ui_status_value {Commit failed.}
+		ui_status {Commit failed.}
 		unlock_index
 		return
 	}
@@ -410,6 +408,5 @@ A rescan will be automatically started now.
 	display_all_files
 	unlock_index
 	reshow_diff
-	set ui_status_value \
-		"Created commit [string range $cmt_id 0 7]: $subject"
+	ui_status "Created commit [string range $cmt_id 0 7]: $subject"
 }
diff --git a/lib/diff.tcl b/lib/diff.tcl
index 29436b50cb..05bf75179b 100644
--- a/lib/diff.tcl
+++ b/lib/diff.tcl
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ proc clear_diff {} {
 }
 
 proc reshow_diff {} {
-	global ui_status_value file_states file_lists
+	global file_states file_lists
 	global current_diff_path current_diff_side
 
 	set p $current_diff_path
@@ -49,13 +49,13 @@ A rescan will be automatically started to find other files which may have the sa
 
 	clear_diff
 	display_file $path __
-	rescan {set ui_status_value {Ready.}} 0
+	rescan ui_ready 0
 }
 
 proc show_diff {path w {lno {}}} {
 	global file_states file_lists
 	global is_3way_diff diff_active repo_config
-	global ui_diff ui_status_value ui_index ui_workdir
+	global ui_diff ui_index ui_workdir
 	global current_diff_path current_diff_side current_diff_header
 
 	if {$diff_active || ![lock_index read]} return
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ proc show_diff {path w {lno {}}} {
 	set current_diff_path $path
 	set current_diff_side $w
 	set current_diff_header {}
-	set ui_status_value "Loading diff of [escape_path $path]..."
+	ui_status "Loading diff of [escape_path $path]..."
 
 	# - Git won't give us the diff, there's nothing to compare to!
 	#
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ proc show_diff {path w {lno {}}} {
 			} err ]} {
 			set diff_active 0
 			unlock_index
-			set ui_status_value "Unable to display [escape_path $path]"
+			ui_status "Unable to display [escape_path $path]"
 			error_popup "Error loading file:\n\n$err"
 			return
 		}
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ proc show_diff {path w {lno {}}} {
 		$ui_diff conf -state disabled
 		set diff_active 0
 		unlock_index
-		set ui_status_value {Ready.}
+		ui_ready
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ proc show_diff {path w {lno {}}} {
 	if {[catch {set fd [open $cmd r]} err]} {
 		set diff_active 0
 		unlock_index
-		set ui_status_value "Unable to display [escape_path $path]"
+		ui_status "Unable to display [escape_path $path]"
 		error_popup "Error loading diff:\n\n$err"
 		return
 	}
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ proc show_diff {path w {lno {}}} {
 }
 
 proc read_diff {fd} {
-	global ui_diff ui_status_value diff_active
+	global ui_diff diff_active
 	global is_3way_diff current_diff_header
 
 	$ui_diff conf -state normal
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ proc read_diff {fd} {
 		close $fd
 		set diff_active 0
 		unlock_index
-		set ui_status_value {Ready.}
+		ui_ready
 
 		if {[$ui_diff index end] eq {2.0}} {
 			handle_empty_diff
diff --git a/lib/index.tcl b/lib/index.tcl
index 42742850ee..7c175a96a6 100644
--- a/lib/index.tcl
+++ b/lib/index.tcl
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # Copyright (C) 2006, 2007 Shawn Pearce
 
 proc update_indexinfo {msg pathList after} {
-	global update_index_cp ui_status_value
+	global update_index_cp
 
 	if {![lock_index update]} return
 
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ proc update_indexinfo {msg pathList after} {
 	set batch [expr {int($totalCnt * .01) + 1}]
 	if {$batch > 25} {set batch 25}
 
-	set ui_status_value [format \
+	ui_status [format \
 		"$msg... %i/%i files (%.2f%%)" \
 		$update_index_cp \
 		$totalCnt \
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ proc update_indexinfo {msg pathList after} {
 }
 
 proc write_update_indexinfo {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
-	global update_index_cp ui_status_value
+	global update_index_cp
 	global file_states current_diff_path
 
 	if {$update_index_cp >= $totalCnt} {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ proc write_update_indexinfo {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
 		display_file $path $new
 	}
 
-	set ui_status_value [format \
+	ui_status [format \
 		"$msg... %i/%i files (%.2f%%)" \
 		$update_index_cp \
 		$totalCnt \
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ proc write_update_indexinfo {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
 }
 
 proc update_index {msg pathList after} {
-	global update_index_cp ui_status_value
+	global update_index_cp
 
 	if {![lock_index update]} return
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ proc update_index {msg pathList after} {
 	set batch [expr {int($totalCnt * .01) + 1}]
 	if {$batch > 25} {set batch 25}
 
-	set ui_status_value [format \
+	ui_status [format \
 		"$msg... %i/%i files (%.2f%%)" \
 		$update_index_cp \
 		$totalCnt \
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ proc update_index {msg pathList after} {
 }
 
 proc write_update_index {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
-	global update_index_cp ui_status_value
+	global update_index_cp
 	global file_states current_diff_path
 
 	if {$update_index_cp >= $totalCnt} {
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ proc write_update_index {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
 		display_file $path $new
 	}
 
-	set ui_status_value [format \
+	ui_status [format \
 		"$msg... %i/%i files (%.2f%%)" \
 		$update_index_cp \
 		$totalCnt \
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ proc write_update_index {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
 }
 
 proc checkout_index {msg pathList after} {
-	global update_index_cp ui_status_value
+	global update_index_cp
 
 	if {![lock_index update]} return
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ proc checkout_index {msg pathList after} {
 	set batch [expr {int($totalCnt * .01) + 1}]
 	if {$batch > 25} {set batch 25}
 
-	set ui_status_value [format \
+	ui_status [format \
 		"$msg... %i/%i files (%.2f%%)" \
 		$update_index_cp \
 		$totalCnt \
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ proc checkout_index {msg pathList after} {
 }
 
 proc write_checkout_index {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
-	global update_index_cp ui_status_value
+	global update_index_cp
 	global file_states current_diff_path
 
 	if {$update_index_cp >= $totalCnt} {
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ proc write_checkout_index {fd pathList totalCnt batch msg after} {
 		}
 	}
 
-	set ui_status_value [format \
+	ui_status [format \
 		"$msg... %i/%i files (%.2f%%)" \
 		$update_index_cp \
 		$totalCnt \
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ proc unstage_helper {txt paths} {
 		update_indexinfo \
 			$txt \
 			$pathList \
-			[concat $after {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}]
+			[concat $after [list ui_ready]]
 	}
 }
 
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ proc add_helper {txt paths} {
 		update_index \
 			$txt \
 			$pathList \
-			[concat $after {set ui_status_value {Ready to commit.}}]
+			[concat $after {ui_status {Ready to commit.}}]
 	}
 }
 
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ Any unadded changes will be permanently lost by the revert." \
 		checkout_index \
 			$txt \
 			$pathList \
-			[concat $after {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}]
+			[concat $after [list ui_ready]]
 	} else {
 		unlock_index
 	}
diff --git a/lib/merge.tcl b/lib/merge.tcl
index 889182f545..f0a02ea228 100644
--- a/lib/merge.tcl
+++ b/lib/merge.tcl
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ Another Git program has modified this repository since the last scan.  A rescan
 The rescan will be automatically started now.
 }
 		unlock_index
-		rescan {set ui_status_value {Ready.}}
+		rescan ui_ready
 		return 0
 	}
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ proc _visualize {w list} {
 }
 
 proc _start {w list} {
-	global HEAD ui_status_value current_branch
+	global HEAD current_branch
 
 	set cmd [list git merge]
 	set names [_refs $w $list]
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ Please select fewer branches.  To merge more than 15 branches, merge the branche
 	}
 
 	set msg "Merging $current_branch, [join $names {, }]"
-	set ui_status_value "$msg..."
+	ui_status "$msg..."
 	set cons [console::new "Merge" $msg]
 	console::exec $cons $cmd \
 		[namespace code [list _finish $revcnt $cons]]
@@ -150,14 +150,14 @@ You can attempt this merge again by merging only one branch at a time." $w
 			fconfigure $fd -blocking 0 -translation binary
 			fileevent $fd readable \
 				[namespace code [list _reset_wait $fd]]
-			set ui_status_value {Aborting... please wait...}
+			ui_status {Aborting... please wait...}
 			return
 		}
 
 		set msg {Merge failed.  Conflict resolution is required.}
 	}
 	unlock_index
-	rescan [list set ui_status_value $msg]
+	rescan [list ui_status $msg]
 }
 
 proc dialog {} {
@@ -285,7 +285,7 @@ Continue with aborting the current $op?"] eq {yes}} {
 		set fd [open "| git read-tree --reset -u HEAD" r]
 		fconfigure $fd -blocking 0 -translation binary
 		fileevent $fd readable [namespace code [list _reset_wait $fd]]
-		set ui_status_value {Aborting... please wait...}
+		ui_status {Aborting... please wait...}
 	} else {
 		unlock_index
 	}
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ proc _reset_wait {fd} {
 		catch {file delete [gitdir MERGE_MSG]}
 		catch {file delete [gitdir GITGUI_MSG]}
 
-		rescan {set ui_status_value {Abort completed.  Ready.}}
+		rescan {ui_status {Abort completed.  Ready.}}
 	}
 }