diff --git a/module/netbox/config.py b/module/netbox/config.py
index a4f1c89..6faa680 100644
--- a/module/netbox/config.py
+++ b/module/netbox/config.py
@@ -98,6 +98,30 @@ def __init__(self):
                          """,
                          default_value=False),
 
+            ConfigOption("orphaned_device_status",
+                         str,
+                         description="""Set the NetBox status of orphaned devices to this value.
+                        If unset, the status will not be changed when a device is orphaned.
+                        The status must be a valid device status in NetBox (e.g. 'decommissioning',
+                        'offline', 'planned').
+                        Note: only devices which support a 'status' field will be affected.
+                        When an orphaned object reappears in a source, the status will be
+                        restored to 'active'.
+                        """,
+                         config_example="decommissioning"),
+
+            ConfigOption("orphaned_vm_status",
+                         str,
+                         description="""Set the NetBox status of orphaned virtual machines to this value.
+                        If unset, the status will not be changed when a VM is orphaned.
+                        The status must be a valid VM status in NetBox (e.g. 'decommissioning',
+                        'offline', 'planned').
+                        Note: only VMs which support a 'status' field will be affected.
+                        When an orphaned object reappears in a source, the status will be
+                        restored to 'active'.
+                        """,
+                         config_example="decommissioning"),
+
             ConfigOption("default_netbox_result_limit",
                          int,
                          description="""The maximum number of objects returned in a single request.
diff --git a/module/netbox/inventory.py b/module/netbox/inventory.py
index 951d2b2..34db811 100644
--- a/module/netbox/inventory.py
+++ b/module/netbox/inventory.py
@@ -347,6 +347,14 @@ def tag_all_the_things(self, netbox_handler):
                     if netbox_handler.orphaned_tag in this_object_tags:
                         this_object.remove_tags(netbox_handler.orphaned_tag)
 
+                        # restore status to active if it was changed during orphaning
+                        if isinstance(this_object, (NBDevice, NBVM)):
+                            current_status = grab(this_object, "data.status")
+                            if isinstance(current_status, dict):
+                                current_status = current_status.get("value")
+                            if current_status is not None and current_status != "active":
+                                this_object.update(data={"status": "active"})
+
                 # if object was tagged by this program in previous runs but is not present
                 # anymore then add the orphaned tag except it originated from a disabled source
                 else:
@@ -390,6 +398,24 @@ def tag_all_the_things(self, netbox_handler):
 
                     this_object.add_tags(netbox_handler.orphaned_tag)
 
+                    # set orphaned status on devices/VMs if configured
+                    # and pruning is enabled (if a source was unavailable,
+                    # pruning is disabled to prevent false orphaning)
+                    if netbox_handler.settings.prune_enabled is True:
+                        if isinstance(this_object, NBDevice):
+                            orphaned_status = netbox_handler.settings.orphaned_device_status
+                        elif isinstance(this_object, NBVM):
+                            orphaned_status = netbox_handler.settings.orphaned_vm_status
+                        else:
+                            orphaned_status = None
+
+                        if orphaned_status:
+                            current_status = grab(this_object, "data.status")
+                            if isinstance(current_status, dict):
+                                current_status = current_status.get("value")
+                            if current_status != orphaned_status:
+                                this_object.update(data={"status": orphaned_status})
+
     def query_ptr_records_for_all_ips(self):
         """
         Perform a DNS lookup for all IP address of a certain source if desired.
diff --git a/settings-example.ini b/settings-example.ini
index 52a288f..43c5cf6 100644
--- a/settings-example.ini
+++ b/settings-example.ini
@@ -85,6 +85,18 @@ host_fqdn = netbox.example.com
 ; Ricardo/netbox-sync/issues/176)
 ;ignore_unknown_source_object_pruning = False
 
+; Set the NetBox status of orphaned devices to this value. If unset the status
+; will not be changed. Must be a valid device status (e.g. 'decommissioning',
+; 'offline', 'planned'). When an orphaned device reappears in a source, the
+; status will be restored to 'active'.
+;orphaned_device_status = decommissioning
+
+; Set the NetBox status of orphaned VMs to this value. If unset the status
+; will not be changed. Must be a valid VM status (e.g. 'decommissioning',
+; 'offline', 'planned'). When an orphaned VM reappears in a source, the
+; status will be restored to 'active'.
+;orphaned_vm_status = decommissioning
+
 ; The maximum number of objects returned in a single request. If a NetBox instance is very
 ; quick responding the value should be raised
 ;default_netbox_result_limit = 200