diff --git a/CHANGES.rst b/CHANGES.rst
index de41a41..65dac73 100644
--- a/CHANGES.rst
+++ b/CHANGES.rst
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ CHANGES
 tip (unreleased)
 ----------------
 
+- Fixed lack of ``get_FOO_display`` method for ``StatusField``. Fixes GH-41.
+
 
 1.3.1 (2013.04.11)
 ------------------
@@ -11,8 +13,10 @@ tip (unreleased)
 - Added explicit default to ``BooleanField`` in tests, for Django trunk
   compatibility.
 
-- Fix intermittent ``StatusField`` bug.  Fixes GH-29.
+- Fixed intermittent ``StatusField`` bug.  Fixes GH-29.
+
 - Added Python 3 support
+
 - Dropped support for Django 1.2 and 1.3.  Django 1.4.2+ required.
 
 
diff --git a/model_utils/fields.py b/model_utils/fields.py
index 7d46504..5aebb3c 100644
--- a/model_utils/fields.py
+++ b/model_utils/fields.py
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ class StatusField(models.CharField):
 
     def contribute_to_class(self, cls, name):
         models.signals.class_prepared.connect(self.prepare_class, sender=cls)
+        # we don't set the real choices until class_prepared (so we can rely on
+        # the STATUS class attr being available), but we need to set some dummy
+        # choices now so the super method will add the get_FOO_display method
+        self._choices = [(0, 'dummy')]
         super(StatusField, self).contribute_to_class(cls, name)
 
 
diff --git a/model_utils/tests/tests.py b/model_utils/tests/tests.py
index d2ce0d1..3331ac3 100644
--- a/model_utils/tests/tests.py
+++ b/model_utils/tests/tests.py
@@ -181,6 +181,10 @@ class StatusFieldTests(TestCase):
         # this model has no STATUS attribute, so checking for it would error
         field.prepare_class(Article)
 
+    def test_get_status_display(self):
+        instance = StatusFieldDefaultFilled()
+        self.assertEqual(instance.get_status_display(), "Yes")
+
 
 class ChoicesTests(TestCase):
     def setUp(self):