Index: src/nano.h
===================================================================
--- src/nano.h	(revision 5749)
+++ src/nano.h	(working copy)
@@ -57,6 +57,10 @@
 /* Suppress warnings for __attribute__((warn_unused_result)). */
 #define IGNORE_CALL_RESULT(call) do { if (call) {} } while(0)
 
+/* The ways to highlight a statusbar message. */
+#define ALERT  TRUE
+#define INFO  FALSE
+
 /* Macros for flags, indexing each bit in a small array. */
 #define FLAGS(flag) flags[((flag) / (sizeof(unsigned) * 8))]
 #define FLAGMASK(flag) (1 << ((flag) % (sizeof(unsigned) * 8)))
@@ -470,6 +474,7 @@
 {
     TITLE_BAR = 0,
     STATUS_BAR,
+    ATTENTION,
     KEY_COMBO,
     FUNCTION_TAG,
     NUMBER_OF_ELEMENTS
Index: src/files.c
===================================================================
--- src/files.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/files.c	(working copy)
@@ -47,14 +47,14 @@
 
     if (stat(parentdir, &parentinfo) == -1) {
 	if (errno == ENOENT)
-	    statusbar(_("Directory '%s' does not exist"), parentdir);
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Directory '%s' does not exist"), parentdir);
 	else
-	    statusbar(_("Path '%s': %s"), parentdir, strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Path '%s': %s"), parentdir, strerror(errno));
     } else if (!S_ISDIR(parentinfo.st_mode)) {
-	statusbar(_("Path '%s' is not a directory"), parentdir);
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Path '%s' is not a directory"), parentdir);
     } else {
 	if (access(parentdir, X_OK) == -1)
-	    statusbar(_("Path '%s' is not accessible"), parentdir);
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Path '%s' is not accessible"), parentdir);
 	else
 	    validity = TRUE;
     }
@@ -203,7 +203,8 @@
 	if (errno == ENAMETOOLONG)
 	    myhostname[31] = '\0';
 	else {
-	    statusbar(_("Couldn't determine hostname for lock file: %s"), strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(INFO, _("Couldn't determine hostname for lock file: %s"),
+			strerror(errno));
 	    goto free_and_fail;
 	}
     }
@@ -224,8 +225,8 @@
     /* Maybe we just don't have write access.  Print an error message
      * and continue. */
     if (fd < 0) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing lock file %s: %s"), lockfilename,
-		    strerror(errno));
+	statusline(INFO, _("Error writing lock file %s: %s"),
+			lockfilename, strerror(errno));
 	free(lockdata);
 	return 0;
     }
@@ -235,7 +236,7 @@
     filestream = fdopen(fd, "wb");
 
     if (fd < 0 || filestream == NULL) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing lock file %s: %s"), lockfilename,
+	statusline(INFO, _("Error writing lock file %s: %s"), lockfilename,
 		    strerror(errno));
 	goto free_and_fail;
     }
@@ -272,7 +273,7 @@
 
     wroteamt = fwrite(lockdata, sizeof(char), lockdatalen, filestream);
     if (wroteamt < lockdatalen) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing lock file %s: %s"),
+	statusline(INFO, _("Error writing lock file %s: %s"),
 		lockfilename, ferror(filestream));
 	goto free_and_fail;
     }
@@ -282,7 +283,7 @@
 #endif
 
     if (fclose(filestream) == EOF) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing lock file %s: %s"),
+	statusline(INFO, _("Error writing lock file %s: %s"),
 		lockfilename, strerror(errno));
 	goto free_and_fail;
     }
@@ -302,7 +303,7 @@
 int delete_lockfile(const char *lockfilename)
 {
     if (unlink(lockfilename) < 0 && errno != ENOENT) {
-	statusbar(_("Error deleting lock file %s: %s"), lockfilename,
+	statusline(INFO, _("Error deleting lock file %s: %s"), lockfilename,
 		  strerror(errno));
 	return -1;
     }
@@ -338,7 +339,7 @@
 	int ans;
 
 	if ((lockfd = open(lockfilename, O_RDONLY)) < 0) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error opening lock file %s: %s"),
+	    statusline(INFO, _("Error opening lock file %s: %s"),
 			lockfilename, strerror(errno));
 	    goto free_the_name;
 	}
@@ -350,8 +351,8 @@
 	} while (readtot < 8192 && readamt > 0);
 
 	if (readtot < 48) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error reading lock file %s: Not enough data read"),
-			lockfilename);
+	    statusline(INFO, _("Error reading lock file %s: "
+			"Not enough data read"), lockfilename);
 	    free(lockbuf);
 	    goto free_the_name;
 	}
@@ -423,7 +424,7 @@
 
 #ifndef DISABLE_OPERATINGDIR
     if (check_operating_dir(filename, FALSE)) {
-	statusbar(_("Can't insert file from outside of %s"),
+	statusline(INFO, _("Can't insert file from outside of %s"),
 		operating_dir);
 	return FALSE;
     }
@@ -436,9 +437,9 @@
 
 	if (stat(filename, &fileinfo) == 0 && !S_ISREG(fileinfo.st_mode)) {
 	    if (S_ISDIR(fileinfo.st_mode))
-		statusbar(_("\"%s\" is a directory"), filename);
+		statusline(ALERT, _("\"%s\" is a directory"), filename);
 	    else
-		statusbar(_("\"%s\" is not a normal file"), filename);
+		statusline(ALERT, _("\"%s\" is not a normal file"), filename);
 	    beep();
 	    return FALSE;
 	}
@@ -579,7 +580,7 @@
 
     /* Indicate the switch on the statusbar. */
     if (!quiet)
-	statusbar(_("Switched to %s"),
+	statusline(INFO, _("Switched to %s"),
 		((openfile->filename[0] == '\0') ?
 		_("New Buffer") : openfile->filename));
 
@@ -939,44 +940,50 @@
 
     if (format == 3) {
 	if (writable)
-	    statusbar(
+	    statusline(INFO,
 		P_("Read %lu line (Converted from DOS and Mac format)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Converted from DOS and Mac format)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
 	else
-	    statusbar(
+	    statusline(ALERT,
 		P_("Read %lu line (Converted from DOS and Mac format - Warning: No write permission)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Converted from DOS and Mac format - Warning: No write permission)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
     } else if (format == 2) {
 	openfile->fmt = MAC_FILE;
 	if (writable)
-	    statusbar(P_("Read %lu line (Converted from Mac format)",
+	    statusline(INFO,
+		P_("Read %lu line (Converted from Mac format)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Converted from Mac format)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
 	else
-	    statusbar(P_("Read %lu line (Converted from Mac format - Warning: No write permission)",
+	    statusline(ALERT,
+		P_("Read %lu line (Converted from Mac format - Warning: No write permission)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Converted from Mac format - Warning: No write permission)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
     } else if (format == 1) {
 	openfile->fmt = DOS_FILE;
 	if (writable)
-	    statusbar(P_("Read %lu line (Converted from DOS format)",
+	    statusline(INFO,
+		P_("Read %lu line (Converted from DOS format)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Converted from DOS format)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
 	else
-	    statusbar(P_("Read %lu line (Converted from DOS format - Warning: No write permission)",
+	    statusline(ALERT,
+		P_("Read %lu line (Converted from DOS format - Warning: No write permission)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Converted from DOS format - Warning: No write permission)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
     } else
 #endif
 	if (writable)
-	    statusbar(P_("Read %lu line", "Read %lu lines",
+	    statusline(INFO, P_("Read %lu line", "Read %lu lines",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
-	else
-	    statusbar(P_("Read %lu line (Warning: No write permission)",
+	else {
+	    statusline(ALERT,
+		P_("Read %lu line (Warning: No write permission)",
 		"Read %lu lines (Warning: No write permission)",
 		(unsigned long)num_lines), (unsigned long)num_lines);
+}
 
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     if (ISSET(MAKE_IT_UNIX))
@@ -1025,7 +1032,7 @@
 		statusbar(_("New File"));
 	    return -2;
 	}
-	statusbar(_("\"%s\" not found"), filename);
+	statusline(INFO, _("\"%s\" not found"), filename);
 	beep();
 	return -1;
     } else if (S_ISDIR(fileinfo.st_mode) || S_ISCHR(fileinfo.st_mode) ||
@@ -1034,14 +1041,14 @@
 
 	/* Don't open directories, character files, or block files.
 	 * Sorry, /dev/sndstat! */
-	statusbar(S_ISDIR(fileinfo.st_mode) ?
+	statusline(ALERT, S_ISDIR(fileinfo.st_mode) ?
 		_("\"%s\" is a directory") :
 		_("\"%s\" is a device file"), filename);
 	beep();
 	return -1;
     } else if ((fd = open(full_filename, O_RDONLY)) == -1) {
 	free(full_filename);
-	statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), filename, strerror(errno));
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), filename, strerror(errno));
 	beep();
 	return -1;
     } else {
@@ -1049,7 +1056,7 @@
 	*f = fdopen(fd, "rb");
 
 	if (*f == NULL) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), filename, strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), filename, strerror(errno));
 	    beep();
 	    close(fd);
 	} else
@@ -1797,7 +1804,7 @@
     /* If we're writing a temporary file, we're probably going outside
      * the operating directory, so skip the operating directory test. */
     if (!tmp && check_operating_dir(realname, FALSE)) {
-	statusbar(_("Can't write outside of %s"), operating_dir);
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Can't write outside of %s"), operating_dir);
 	goto cleanup_and_exit;
     }
 #endif
@@ -1841,7 +1848,7 @@
 	    f = fopen(realname, "rb");
 
 	    if (f == NULL) {
-		statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
 			strerror(errno));
 		beep();
 		/* If we can't read from the original file, go on, since
@@ -1882,8 +1889,8 @@
 	    free(backuptemp);
 	    backuptemp = get_next_filename(backupname, "~");
 	    if (*backuptemp == '\0') {
-		statusbar(_("Error writing backup file %s: %s"), backupname,
-		    _("Too many backup files?"));
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing backup file %s: %s"),
+			backupname, _("Too many backup files?"));
 		free(backuptemp);
 		free(backupname);
 		/* If we can't write to the backup, DON'T go on, since
@@ -1907,8 +1914,8 @@
 	if (unlink(backupname) < 0 && errno != ENOENT && !ISSET(INSECURE_BACKUP)) {
 	    if (prompt_failed_backupwrite(backupname))
 		goto skip_backup;
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing backup file %s: %s"), backupname,
-			strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing backup file %s: %s"),
+			backupname, strerror(errno));
 	    free(backupname);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
@@ -1925,8 +1932,8 @@
 	backup_file = fdopen(backup_fd, "wb");
 
 	if (backup_fd < 0 || backup_file == NULL) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing backup file %s: %s"), backupname,
-			strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing backup file %s: %s"),
+			backupname, strerror(errno));
 	    free(backupname);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
@@ -1938,8 +1945,8 @@
 		&& !ISSET(INSECURE_BACKUP)) {
 	    if (prompt_failed_backupwrite(backupname))
 		goto skip_backup;
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing backup file %s: %s"), backupname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing backup file %s: %s"),
+			backupname, strerror(errno));
 	    free(backupname);
 	    fclose(backup_file);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
@@ -1949,8 +1956,8 @@
 		&& !ISSET(INSECURE_BACKUP)) {
 	    if (prompt_failed_backupwrite(backupname))
 		goto skip_backup;
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing backup file %s: %s"), backupname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing backup file %s: %s"),
+			backupname, strerror(errno));
 	    free(backupname);
 	    fclose(backup_file);
 	    /* If we can't write to the backup, DONT go on, since
@@ -1968,7 +1975,7 @@
 	copy_status = copy_file(f, backup_file);
 
 	if (copy_status != 0) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
 			strerror(errno));
 	    beep();
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
@@ -1978,8 +1985,8 @@
 	if (utime(backupname, &filetime) == -1 && !ISSET(INSECURE_BACKUP)) {
 	    if (prompt_failed_backupwrite(backupname))
 		goto skip_backup;
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing backup file %s: %s"), backupname,
-			strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing backup file %s: %s"),
+			backupname, strerror(errno));
 	    /* If we can't write to the backup, DON'T go on, since
 	     * whatever caused the backup file to fail (e.g. disk full
 	     * may well cause the real file write to fail, which means
@@ -2013,7 +2020,7 @@
 	    f = fopen(realname, "rb");
 
 	    if (f == NULL) {
-		statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
 			strerror(errno));
 		beep();
 		goto cleanup_and_exit;
@@ -2023,8 +2030,8 @@
 	tempname = safe_tempfile(&f);
 
 	if (tempname == NULL) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing temp file: %s"),
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing temp file: %s"),
+			strerror(errno));
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
 
@@ -2034,8 +2041,8 @@
 	    if (fd_source != -1) {
 		f_source = fdopen(fd_source, "rb");
 		if (f_source == NULL) {
-		    statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
-			strerror(errno));
+		    statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), realname,
+				strerror(errno));
 		    beep();
 		    close(fd_source);
 		    fclose(f);
@@ -2046,8 +2053,8 @@
 	}
 
 	if (f_source == NULL || copy_file(f_source, f) != 0) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), tempname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), tempname,
+			strerror(errno));
 	    unlink(tempname);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
@@ -2065,8 +2072,8 @@
 
 	/* If we couldn't open the file, give up. */
 	if (fd == -1) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+			strerror(errno));
 
 	    /* tempname has been set only if we're prepending. */
 	    if (tempname != NULL)
@@ -2077,8 +2084,8 @@
 	f = fdopen(fd, (append == APPEND) ? "ab" : "wb");
 
 	if (f == NULL) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+			strerror(errno));
 	    close(fd);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
@@ -2101,8 +2108,8 @@
 	unsunder(fileptr->data, data_len);
 
 	if (size < data_len) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+			strerror(errno));
 	    fclose(f);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
@@ -2118,8 +2125,8 @@
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 	    if (openfile->fmt == DOS_FILE || openfile->fmt == MAC_FILE) {
 		if (putc('\r', f) == EOF) {
-		    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-			strerror(errno));
+		    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+				strerror(errno));
 		    fclose(f);
 		    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 		}
@@ -2128,8 +2135,8 @@
 	    if (openfile->fmt != MAC_FILE)
 #endif
 		if (putc('\n', f) == EOF) {
-		    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-			strerror(errno));
+		    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+				strerror(errno));
 		    fclose(f);
 		    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 		}
@@ -2153,23 +2160,23 @@
 	}
 
 	if (f_source == NULL) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), tempname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), tempname,
+			strerror(errno));
 	    beep();
 	    fclose(f);
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
 
 	if (copy_file(f_source, f) == -1) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+			strerror(errno));
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
 	}
 
 	unlink(tempname);
     } else if (fclose(f) != 0) {
-	    statusbar(_("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing %s: %s"), realname,
+			strerror(errno));
 	    goto cleanup_and_exit;
     }
 
@@ -2197,9 +2204,8 @@
 	    stat_with_alloc(realname, &openfile->current_stat);
 #endif
 
-	statusbar(P_("Wrote %lu line", "Wrote %lu lines",
-		(unsigned long)lineswritten),
-		(unsigned long)lineswritten);
+	statusline(INFO, P_("Wrote %lu line", "Wrote %lu lines",
+		(unsigned long)lineswritten), (unsigned long)lineswritten);
 	openfile->modified = FALSE;
 	titlebar(NULL);
     }
Index: src/search.c
===================================================================
--- src/search.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/search.c	(working copy)
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@
 	char *str = charalloc(len);
 
 	regerror(rc, &search_regexp, str, len);
-	statusbar(_("Bad regex \"%s\": %s"), regexp, str);
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Bad regex \"%s\": %s"), regexp, str);
 	free(str);
 
 	return FALSE;
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@
     disp = display_string(str, 0, (COLS / 2) + 1, FALSE);
     numchars = actual_x(disp, mbstrnlen(disp, COLS / 2));
 
-    statusbar(_("\"%.*s%s\" not found"), numchars, disp,
+    statusline(INFO, _("\"%.*s%s\" not found"), numchars, disp,
 		(disp[numchars] == '\0') ? "" : "...");
 
     free(disp);
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@
     edit_refresh();
 
     if (numreplaced >= 0)
-	statusbar(P_("Replaced %lu occurrence",
+	statusline(INFO, P_("Replaced %lu occurrence",
 		"Replaced %lu occurrences", (unsigned long)numreplaced),
 		(unsigned long)numreplaced);
 
Index: src/proto.h
===================================================================
--- src/proto.h	(revision 5749)
+++ src/proto.h	(working copy)
@@ -785,7 +785,8 @@
 	dollars);
 void titlebar(const char *path);
 extern void set_modified(void);
-void statusbar(const char *msg, ...);
+void statusbar(const char *msg);
+void statusline(bool alert, const char *msg, ...);
 void bottombars(int menu);
 void onekey(const char *keystroke, const char *desc, size_t len);
 void reset_cursor(void);
Index: src/color.c
===================================================================
--- src/color.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/color.c	(working copy)
@@ -66,7 +66,12 @@
 	    interface_color_pair[i].bright = bright;
 	    interface_color_pair[i].pairnum = COLOR_PAIR(i + 1);
 	}
-	else {
+	else if (i == ATTENTION) {
+	    /* If not defined, the default alert is brightwhite on red. */
+	    init_pair(i + 1, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_RED);
+	    interface_color_pair[i].bright = TRUE;
+	    interface_color_pair[i].pairnum = COLOR_PAIR(i + 1);
+	} else {
 	    interface_color_pair[i].bright = FALSE;
 	    if (i != FUNCTION_TAG)
 		interface_color_pair[i].pairnum = hilite_attribute;
@@ -184,7 +189,7 @@
 	}
 
 	if (sint == NULL)
-	    statusbar(_("Unknown syntax name: %s"), syntaxstr);
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Unknown syntax name: %s"), syntaxstr);
     }
 
     /* If no syntax-override string was specified, or it didn't match,
@@ -242,11 +247,11 @@
 #endif
 				    MAGIC_ERROR);
 	    if (cookie == NULL || magic_load(cookie, NULL) < 0)
-		statusbar(_("magic_load() failed: %s"), strerror(errno));
+		statusline(ALERT, _("magic_load() failed: %s"), strerror(errno));
 	    else {
 		magicstring = magic_file(cookie, openfile->filename);
 		if (magicstring == NULL)
-		    statusbar(_("magic_file(%s) failed: %s"),
+		    statusline(ALERT, _("magic_file(%s) failed: %s"),
 				openfile->filename, magic_error(cookie));
 #ifdef DEBUG
 		fprintf(stderr, "Returned magic string is: %s\n", magicstring);
Index: src/browser.c
===================================================================
--- src/browser.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/browser.c	(working copy)
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@
 
 #ifndef DISABLE_OPERATINGDIR
 	    if (check_operating_dir(new_path, FALSE)) {
-		statusbar(_("Can't go outside of %s in restricted mode"),
-				operating_dir);
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Can't go outside of %s "
+				"in restricted mode"), operating_dir);
 		free(new_path);
 		continue;
 	    }
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@
 	    if (dir == NULL) {
 		/* We can't open this directory for some reason.
 		* Complain. */
-		statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"), answer,
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"), answer,
 				strerror(errno));
 		beep();
 		free(new_path);
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
 	} else if (func == do_enter) {
 	    /* We can't move up from "/". */
 	    if (strcmp(filelist[selected], "/..") == 0) {
-		statusbar(_("Can't move up a directory"));
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Can't move up a directory"));
 		beep();
 		continue;
 	    }
@@ -287,8 +287,8 @@
 	     * directory if it's ".." or if it's a symlink to a
 	     * directory outside the operating directory. */
 	    if (check_operating_dir(filelist[selected], FALSE)) {
-		statusbar(_("Can't go outside of %s in restricted mode"),
-				operating_dir);
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Can't go outside of %s "
+				"in restricted mode"), operating_dir);
 		beep();
 		continue;
 	    }
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@
 	    if (stat(filelist[selected], &st) == -1) {
 		/* We can't open this file for some reason.
 		 * Complain. */
-		 statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"),
+		 statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"),
 				filelist[selected], strerror(errno));
 		 beep();
 		 continue;
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@
 	    dir = opendir(filelist[selected]);
 
 	    if (dir == NULL) {
-		statusbar(_("Error reading %s: %s"),
+		statusline(ALERT, _("Error reading %s: %s"),
 				filelist[selected], strerror(errno));
 		beep();
 		continue;
Index: src/text.c
===================================================================
--- src/text.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/text.c	(working copy)
@@ -478,7 +478,7 @@
 
     filestruct *f = fsfromline(u->mark_begin_lineno);
     if (!f) {
-	statusbar(_("Internal error: can't match line %d.  "
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Internal error: can't match line %d.  "
 			"Please save your work."), u->mark_begin_lineno);
 	return;
     }
@@ -598,7 +598,7 @@
     }
 
     if (undidmsg)
-	statusbar(_("Undid action (%s)"), undidmsg);
+	statusline(INFO, _("Undid action (%s)"), undidmsg);
 
     renumber(f);
     openfile->current_undo = openfile->current_undo->next;
@@ -631,7 +631,7 @@
 
     filestruct *f = fsfromline(u->type == INSERT ? 1 : u->mark_begin_lineno);
     if (!f) {
-	statusbar(_("Internal error: can't match line %d.  "
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Internal error: can't match line %d.  "
 			"Please save your work."), u->mark_begin_lineno);
 	return;
     }
@@ -734,7 +734,7 @@
     }
 
     if (redidmsg)
-	statusbar(_("Redid action (%s)"), redidmsg);
+	statusline(INFO, _("Redid action (%s)"), redidmsg);
 
     openfile->current_undo = u;
     openfile->last_action = OTHER;
@@ -1850,7 +1850,7 @@
 
 #ifdef HAVE_REGEX_H
     if (quoterc != 0) {
-	statusbar(_("Bad quote string %s: %s"), quotestr, quoteerr);
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Bad quote string %s: %s"), quotestr, quoteerr);
 	return FALSE;
     }
 #endif
@@ -2860,7 +2860,7 @@
     temp = safe_tempfile(&temp_file);
 
     if (temp == NULL) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
 	return;
     }
 
@@ -2872,7 +2872,7 @@
 	write_file(temp, temp_file, TRUE, OVERWRITE, FALSE);
 
     if (!status) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
 	free(temp);
 	return;
     }
@@ -2894,10 +2894,10 @@
     if (spell_msg != NULL) {
 	if (errno == 0)
 	    /* Don't display an error message of "Success". */
-	    statusbar(_("Spell checking failed: %s"), spell_msg);
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Spell checking failed: %s"), spell_msg);
 	else
-	    statusbar(_("Spell checking failed: %s: %s"), spell_msg,
-		strerror(errno));
+	    statusline(ALERT, _("Spell checking failed: %s: %s"), spell_msg,
+			strerror(errno));
     } else
 	statusbar(_("Finished checking spelling"));
 }
@@ -3102,7 +3102,8 @@
     free(read_buff);
 
     if (parsesuccess == 0) {
-	statusbar(_("Got 0 parsable lines from command: %s"), openfile->syntax->linter);
+	statusline(INFO, _("Got 0 parsable lines from command: %s"),
+			openfile->syntax->linter);
 	goto exit_from_lint;
     }
 
@@ -3241,7 +3242,7 @@
     temp = safe_tempfile(&temp_file);
 
     if (temp == NULL) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
 	return;
     }
 
@@ -3250,7 +3251,7 @@
     status = write_file(temp, temp_file, TRUE, OVERWRITE, FALSE);
 
     if (!status) {
-	statusbar(_("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
+	statusline(ALERT, _("Error writing temp file: %s"), strerror(errno));
 	free(temp);
 	return;
     }
@@ -3393,9 +3394,9 @@
     openfile->placewewant = pww_save;
 
     /* Display the total word, line, and character counts on the statusbar. */
-    statusbar(_("%sWords: %lu  Lines: %ld  Chars: %lu"), old_mark_set ?
-	_("In Selection:  ") : "", (unsigned long)words, (long)nlines,
-	(unsigned long)chars);
+    statusline(INFO, _("%sWords: %lu  Lines: %ld  Chars: %lu"), old_mark_set ?
+		_("In Selection:  ") : "", (unsigned long)words, (long)nlines,
+		(unsigned long)chars);
 }
 #endif /* !NANO_TINY */
 
Index: src/winio.c
===================================================================
--- src/winio.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/winio.c	(working copy)
@@ -2094,10 +2094,16 @@
     wnoutrefresh(edit);
 }
 
+/* Display a normal message on the statusbar. */
+void statusbar(const char *msg)
+{
+    statusline(INFO, msg);
+}
+
 /* Display a message on the statusbar, and set disable_cursorpos to
  * TRUE, so that the message won't be immediately overwritten if
  * constant cursor position display is on. */
-void statusbar(const char *msg, ...)
+void statusline(bool alert, const char *msg, ...)
 {
     va_list ap;
     char *bar, *foo;
@@ -2136,15 +2142,25 @@
     start_x = (COLS - strlenpt(foo) - 4) / 2;
 
     wmove(bottomwin, 0, start_x);
-    if (interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].bright)
-	wattron(bottomwin, A_BOLD);
-    wattron(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].pairnum);
+    if (alert) {
+	if (interface_color_pair[ATTENTION].bright)
+	    wattron(bottomwin, A_BOLD);
+	wattron(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[ATTENTION].pairnum);
+    }
+    else {
+	if (interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].bright)
+	    wattron(bottomwin, A_BOLD);
+	wattron(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].pairnum);
+    }
     waddstr(bottomwin, "[ ");
     waddstr(bottomwin, foo);
     free(foo);
     waddstr(bottomwin, " ]");
     wattroff(bottomwin, A_BOLD);
-    wattroff(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].pairnum);
+    if (alert)
+	wattroff(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[ATTENTION].pairnum);
+    else
+	wattroff(bottomwin, interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].pairnum);
 
     wnoutrefresh(bottomwin);
    /* Leave the cursor in the edit window, not in the statusbar. */
@@ -3137,7 +3153,7 @@
     colpct = 100 * cur_xpt / cur_lenpt;
     charpct = (openfile->totsize == 0) ? 0 : 100 * i / openfile->totsize;
 
-    statusbar(
+    statusline(INFO,
 	_("line %ld/%ld (%d%%), col %lu/%lu (%d%%), char %lu/%lu (%d%%)"),
 	(long)openfile->current->lineno,
 	(long)openfile->filebot->lineno, linepct,
Index: src/nano.c
===================================================================
--- src/nano.c	(revision 5749)
+++ src/nano.c	(working copy)
@@ -1445,7 +1445,8 @@
 	)
 	enabled = !enabled;
 
-    statusbar("%s %s", _(flagtostr(flag)), enabled ? _("enabled") : _("disabled"));
+    statusline(INFO, "%s %s", _(flagtostr(flag)),
+		enabled ? _("enabled") : _("disabled"));
 }
 #endif /* !NANO_TINY */
 
@@ -2517,10 +2518,16 @@
 #else
     interface_color_pair[TITLE_BAR].pairnum = hilite_attribute;
     interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].pairnum = hilite_attribute;
+    if has_color() {
+	init_pair(ATTENTION + 1, COLOR_WHITE, COLOR_RED);
+	interface_color_pair[ATTENTION].pairnum = COLOR_PAIR(ATTENTION + 1);
+    } else
+	interface_color_pair[ATTENTION].pairnum = hilite_attribute;
     interface_color_pair[KEY_COMBO].pairnum = hilite_attribute;
     interface_color_pair[FUNCTION_TAG].pairnum = A_NORMAL;
     interface_color_pair[TITLE_BAR].bright = FALSE;
     interface_color_pair[STATUS_BAR].bright = FALSE;
+    interface_color_pair[ATTENTION].bright = TRUE;
     interface_color_pair[KEY_COMBO].bright = FALSE;
     interface_color_pair[FUNCTION_TAG].bright = FALSE;
 #endif