diff --git a/code/modules/power/smes.dm b/code/modules/power/smes.dm
index 11bcef5881..18aa6b4885 100644
--- a/code/modules/power/smes.dm
+++ b/code/modules/power/smes.dm
@@ -301,6 +301,13 @@
 	data["outputMax"] = output_level_max
 	data["outputLoad"] = round(output_used)
 
+	if(outputting)
+		data["outputting"] = 2			// smes is outputting
+	else if(!outputting && output_attempt)
+		data["outputting"] = 1			// smes is online but not outputting because it's charge level is too low
+	else
+		data["outputting"] = 0			// smes is not outputting
+
 	// update the ui if it exists, returns null if no ui is passed/found
 	ui = nanomanager.try_update_ui(user, src, ui_key, ui, data, force_open)
 	if (!ui)
@@ -322,11 +329,11 @@
 		return 1
 
 	if( href_list["cmode"] )
-		inputting(!inputting)
+		inputting(!input_attempt)
 		update_icon()
 
 	else if( href_list["online"] )
-		outputting(!outputting)
+		outputting(!output_attempt)
 		update_icon()
 	else if( href_list["input"] )
 		switch( href_list["input"] )
diff --git a/nano/templates/smes.tmpl b/nano/templates/smes.tmpl
index 8b72cefedd..799ac3911d 100644
--- a/nano/templates/smes.tmpl
+++ b/nano/templates/smes.tmpl
@@ -50,6 +50,14 @@
 	</div>
 	<div class="itemContent">
 		{{:helper.link('Online', 'power', {'online' : 1}, data.outputOnline ? 'selected' : null)}}{{:helper.link('Offline', 'close', {'online' : 1}, data.outputOnline ? null : 'selected')}}
+		&nbsp;
+		{{if data.outputting == 2}}
+			[<span class='good'>Outputting</span>]
+		{{else data.outputting == 1}}
+			[<span class='average'>Stored energy too low</span>]
+		{{else}}
+			[<span class='bad'>Not Outputting</span>]
+		{{/if}}
 	</div>
 </div>