diff --git a/functions/main b/functions/main
index b5623858..81c33764 100644
--- a/functions/main
+++ b/functions/main
@@ -47,6 +47,34 @@ log_debug() {
     console_output "DEBUG: $*\n"
   fi
 }
+
+get_branch_status() {
+  log_debug "cd $NGCPCTL_MAIN"
+  cd "$NGCPCTL_MAIN"
+
+  log_debug "git rev-parse HEAD"
+  local LOCAL=$(git rev-parse HEAD)
+
+  log_debug "git rev-parse @{u}"
+  local REMOTE=$(git rev-parse @{u})
+
+  log_debug "git merge-base HEAD @{u}"
+  local BASE=$(git merge-base HEAD @{u})
+
+  if [ "$LOCAL" = "$REMOTE" ]; then
+    # Up-to-date
+    return 0
+  elif [ "$LOCAL" = "$BASE" ]; then
+    # Need to pull
+    return 1
+  elif [ "$REMOTE" = "$BASE" ]; then
+    # Need to push
+    return 2
+  else
+    # Diverged
+    return 3
+  fi
+}
 ## }}}
 
 ## important variables we depend on to operate successfully {{{