diff --git a/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py b/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..550889e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+import sys
+from i3pystatus.mail import Backend
+import subprocess
+
+class MaildirMail(Backend):
+    """
+    Checks for local mail in Maildir
+    """
+
+    settings = ("directory")
+    required = ("directory")
+
+    @property
+    def unread(self):
+        p = subprocess.Popen(['ls','-l',line.strip()+'/new'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+        stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
+        stdout=stdout.decode('utf8')
+        return len(stdout.split('\n'))-2
+
+Backend = MaildirMail