diff --git a/subcmds/status.py b/subcmds/status.py
index 40562274..cce00c81 100644
--- a/subcmds/status.py
+++ b/subcmds/status.py
@@ -20,10 +20,14 @@ try:
 except ImportError:
   import dummy_threading as _threading
 
+import glob
 import itertools
+import os
 import sys
 import StringIO
 
+from color import Coloring
+
 class Status(PagedCommand):
   common = True
   helpSummary = "Show the working tree status"
@@ -39,6 +43,13 @@ is a difference between these three states.
 The -j/--jobs option can be used to run multiple status queries
 in parallel.
 
+The -o/--orphans option can be used to show objects that are in
+the working directory, but not associated with a repo project.
+This includes unmanaged top-level files and directories, but also
+includes deeper items.  For example, if dir/subdir/proj1 and
+dir/subdir/proj2 are repo projects, dir/subdir/proj3 will be shown
+if it is not known to repo.
+
 Status Display
 --------------
 
@@ -76,6 +87,9 @@ the following meanings:
     p.add_option('-j', '--jobs',
                  dest='jobs', action='store', type='int', default=2,
                  help="number of projects to check simultaneously")
+    p.add_option('-o', '--orphans',
+                 dest='orphans', action='store_true',
+                 help="include objects in working directory outside of repo projects")
 
   def _StatusHelper(self, project, clean_counter, sem, output):
     """Obtains the status for a specific project.
@@ -97,6 +111,22 @@ the following meanings:
     finally:
       sem.release()
 
+  def _FindOrphans(self, dirs, proj_dirs, proj_dirs_parents, outstring):
+    """find 'dirs' that are present in 'proj_dirs_parents' but not in 'proj_dirs'"""
+    status_header = ' --\t'
+    for item in dirs:
+      if not os.path.isdir(item):
+        outstring.write(''.join([status_header, item]))
+        continue
+      if item in proj_dirs:
+        continue
+      if item in proj_dirs_parents:
+        self._FindOrphans(glob.glob('%s/.*' % item) + \
+            glob.glob('%s/*' % item), \
+            proj_dirs, proj_dirs_parents, outstring)
+        continue
+      outstring.write(''.join([status_header, item, '/']))
+
   def Execute(self, opt, args):
     all_projects = self.GetProjects(args)
     counter = itertools.count()
@@ -130,3 +160,45 @@ the following meanings:
         output.close()
     if len(all_projects) == counter.next():
       print('nothing to commit (working directory clean)')
+
+    if opt.orphans:
+      proj_dirs = set()
+      proj_dirs_parents = set()
+      for project in self.GetProjects(None, missing_ok=True):
+        proj_dirs.add(project.relpath)
+        (head, _tail) = os.path.split(project.relpath)
+        while head != "":
+          proj_dirs_parents.add(head)
+          (head, _tail) = os.path.split(head)
+      proj_dirs.add('.repo')
+
+      class StatusColoring(Coloring):
+        def __init__(self, config):
+          Coloring.__init__(self, config, 'status')
+          self.project = self.printer('header', attr = 'bold')
+          self.untracked = self.printer('untracked', fg = 'red')
+
+      orig_path = os.getcwd()
+      try:
+        os.chdir(self.manifest.topdir)
+
+        outstring = StringIO.StringIO()
+        self._FindOrphans(glob.glob('.*') + \
+            glob.glob('*'), \
+            proj_dirs, proj_dirs_parents, outstring)
+
+        if outstring.buflist:
+          output = StatusColoring(self.manifest.globalConfig)
+          output.project('Objects not within a project (orphans)')
+          output.nl()
+          for entry in outstring.buflist:
+            output.untracked(entry)
+            output.nl()
+        else:
+          print('No orphan files or directories')
+
+        outstring.close()
+
+      finally:
+        # Restore CWD.
+        os.chdir(orig_path)