diff --git a/speedwm.c b/speedwm.c
index c150842..5c6d027 100644
--- a/speedwm.c
+++ b/speedwm.c
@@ -4752,6 +4752,7 @@ sortscreens(XineramaScreenInfo *screens, int n)
 void
 spawn(const Arg *arg)
 {
+    FILE *buttonfile = fopen("/tmp/speedwm-button", "w");
 	if (fork() == 0) {
 		if (dpy)
 			close(ConnectionNumber(dpy));
@@ -4761,6 +4762,14 @@ spawn(const Arg *arg)
 				if (statuscmdn == statuscmds[i].id) {
 					statuscmd[2] = statuscmds[i].cmd;
 					setenv("BUTTON", lastbutton, 1);
+					int writestatus = fputs(lastbutton, buttonfile);
+					if (writestatus == EOF) {
+						fprintf(stderr, "speedwm: failed to write statuscmd button.\n");
+						return;
+				    }
+
+				    fclose(buttonfile);
+
 					break;
 				}
 			}