diff --git a/docs/configuring-playbook-ngnix.md b/docs/configuring-playbook-ngnix.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..81081e8b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/configuring-playbook-ngnix.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# Configure Ngnix (optional, advanced)
+
+By default, this playbook installs its own nginx webserver (in a Docker container) which listens on ports 80 and 443.
+If that's alright, you can skip this.
+
+
+## Using Ngnix status
+
+This will serve a statuspage to the hosting machine only. Useful for monitoring software like [longview](https://www.linode.com/docs/platform/longview/longview-app-for-nginx/)
+
+```yaml
+matrix_nginx_proxy_nginx_status_enabled: true
+```
diff --git a/docs/configuring-playbook.md b/docs/configuring-playbook.md
index c56cf11d2..309fff098 100644
--- a/docs/configuring-playbook.md
+++ b/docs/configuring-playbook.md
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ When you're done with all the configuration you'd like to do, continue with [Ins
 
 - [Serving your base domain using this playbook's nginx server](configuring-playbook-base-domain-serving.md) (optional)
 
+- [Configure Ngnix (optional, advanced)](configuring-playbook-ngnix.md) (optional, advanced)
+
 - [Using your own webserver, instead of this playbook's nginx proxy](configuring-playbook-own-webserver.md) (optional, advanced)
 
 - [Setting up the REST authentication password provider module](configuring-playbook-rest-auth.md) (optional, advanced)
diff --git a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml
index 3576f4c44..54e25194c 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/defaults/main.yml
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 matrix_nginx_proxy_enabled: true
 
+matrix_nginx_proxy_nginx_status_enabled: false
+
 # We use an official nginx image, which we fix-up to run unprivileged.
 # An alternative would be an `nginxinc/nginx-unprivileged` image, but
 # those as more frequently out of date.
diff --git a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-domain.conf.j2 b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-domain.conf.j2
index 679f3efa7..b63f9fbcc 100644
--- a/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-domain.conf.j2
+++ b/roles/matrix-nginx-proxy/templates/nginx/conf.d/matrix-domain.conf.j2
@@ -4,6 +4,15 @@ server {
 
 	server_tokens off;
 
+	{% if matrix_nginx_proxy_nginx_status_enabled %}
+		location /nginx_status {
+			stub_status on;
+			access_log off;
+			allow {{ ansible_default_ipv4.address }};
+			deny all;
+		}
+	{% endif %}
+
 	location /.well-known/acme-challenge {
 		{% if matrix_nginx_proxy_enabled %}
 			{# Use the embedded DNS resolver in Docker containers to discover the service #}