diff --git a/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.cpp b/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.cpp
index 95c756e..642202d 100644
--- a/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.cpp
+++ b/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.cpp
@@ -39,15 +39,23 @@ UniverseWindow::UniverseWindow(QWidget *parent, std::shared_ptr<DMX::Universe> u
   : QMainWindow(parent)
   , ui(new Ui::UniverseWindow())
   , universe_(universe)
+  , status_watchdog_(new QTimer(this))
 {
   ui->setupUi(this);
 
+  // set the status watchdog to update the status if the universe
+  // isn't showing frequent activity
+  status_watchdog_->callOnTimeout([this](){update_status_();});
+  status_watchdog_->setInterval(DMX::E111_DATA_LOSS_TIMEOUT / 10);
+  status_watchdog_->start();
+
   auto model = new UniverseModel(this, universe);
   ui->tableView->setModel(model);
 
   // update the status bar whenever the universe refreshes
   connect(model, &UniverseModel::dataChanged, this, [this]() {
       update_status_();
+      status_watchdog_->start();
   });
 
   // add data format combobox to toolbar
diff --git a/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.h b/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.h
index e4cf7fb..91a8a0a 100644
--- a/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.h
+++ b/platform/qt/sacn/universewindow.h
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 
 #include <universe.h>
 #include <QMainWindow>
+#include <QTimer>
 
 QT_BEGIN_NAMESPACE
 namespace Ui {
@@ -52,4 +53,5 @@ private:
     std::shared_ptr<DMX::Universe> universe_;
 
     void update_status_();
+    QTimer *status_watchdog_;
 };