diff --git a/README.PROTOCOL b/README.PROTOCOL
index 3642d3e..327f0e4 100644
--- a/README.PROTOCOL
+++ b/README.PROTOCOL
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@ The `join` message requests that the sender join or leave a group:
     kind: 'join' or 'leave',
     group: group,
     username: username,
-    password: password
+    password: password,
+    status: status
 }
 ```
 
diff --git a/rtpconn/webclient.go b/rtpconn/webclient.go
index a0a5792..461b472 100644
--- a/rtpconn/webclient.go
+++ b/rtpconn/webclient.go
@@ -1316,9 +1316,20 @@ func handleClientMessage(c *webClient, m clientMessage) error {
 		}
 
 		if c.group != nil {
-			return group.ProtocolError("cannot join multiple groups")
+			return group.ProtocolError(
+				"cannot join multiple groups",
+			)
 		}
 		c.username = m.Username
+		if m.Status != nil {
+			s, ok := m.Status.(map[string]interface{})
+			if !ok {
+				return group.ProtocolError(
+					"bad type for status",
+				)
+			}
+			c.status = s
+		}
 		g, err := group.AddClient(m.Group, c,
 			group.ClientCredentials{
 				Username: m.Username,
diff --git a/static/protocol.js b/static/protocol.js
index 7550801..766be50 100644
--- a/static/protocol.js
+++ b/static/protocol.js
@@ -416,15 +416,19 @@ ServerConnection.prototype.connect = async function(url) {
  * @param {string} group - The name of the group to join.
  * @param {string} username - the username to join as.
  * @param {string} password - the password.
+ * @param {Object<string,any>} [status] - the initial status of the user.
  */
-ServerConnection.prototype.join = function(group, username, password) {
-    this.send({
+ServerConnection.prototype.join = function(group, username, password, status) {
+    let m = {
         type: 'join',
         kind: 'join',
         group: group,
         username: username,
         password: password,
-    });
+    };
+    if(status)
+        m.status = status;
+    this.send(m);
 };
 
 /**