diff --git a/src/main/ruby/lib/merritt_zk_queue_item.rb b/src/main/ruby/lib/merritt_zk_queue_item.rb
index 1484fb2..ec761b8 100644
--- a/src/main/ruby/lib/merritt_zk_queue_item.rb
+++ b/src/main/ruby/lib/merritt_zk_queue_item.rb
@@ -146,6 +146,10 @@ def load(zk)
       @payload = payload_object
     end
 
+    def status_byte
+      @bytes[0]
+    end
+
     def status_name
       return 'NA' if status_byte > status_vals.length
       status_vals[status_byte]