diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index 515ab42..ccb1f7c 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -492,8 +492,17 @@ Checks for local mail in mbox
 Settings:
 
 
+maildir.MaildirMail
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 
+Checks for new mail in a Maildir folder
+
+
+Settings:
+
+:directory:  (required, e.g. '/home/foo/mail/INBOX')
+
 
 notmuchmail.Notmuch
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
diff --git a/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py b/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
index 29d88c5..2eaccf7 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/mail/maildir.py
@@ -11,15 +11,15 @@ class MaildirMail(Backend):
     """
 
     settings = (
-            "mailbox",
+            "directory",
             )
-    required = ("mailbox",)
+    required = ("directory",)
 
-    mailbox=""
+    directory=""
 
     @property
     def unread(self):
-        p = subprocess.Popen(['ls','-l',self.mailbox+'/new'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
+        p = subprocess.Popen(['ls','-l',self.directory+'/new'], stdout=subprocess.PIPE)
         stdout, stderr = p.communicate()
         stdout=stdout.decode('utf8')
         return len(stdout.split('\n'))-2