diff --git a/config.toml.example b/config.toml.example
index cf895c6..805f5c7 100644
--- a/config.toml.example
+++ b/config.toml.example
@@ -8,3 +8,6 @@ access_token = ...
 
 [spaceping]
 api_token = ...
+
+[isitopen]
+announce_rooms = ["!room_id:homeserver.example"]
diff --git a/its_matrix_bot/__init__.py b/its_matrix_bot/__init__.py
index 1730b7f..28610f8 100755
--- a/its_matrix_bot/__init__.py
+++ b/its_matrix_bot/__init__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import asyncio
 import datetime
 from nio.rooms import MatrixRoom
 from nio.events.room_events import RoomMessage
@@ -16,6 +17,8 @@ class ItSyndikatBot:
     def __init__(self, config: Config):
         self.config = config
 
+        self.current_open_state = None
+
         creds = botlib.Creds(
             config.matrix_homeserver,
             config.matrix_username,
@@ -28,7 +31,27 @@ class ItSyndikatBot:
         self.bot = botlib.Bot(creds)
 
         self.bot.listener.on_message_event(self.on_message)
-        self.bot.run()
+
+    async def run(self):
+        async def poll_for_changes():
+            while True:
+                try:
+                    status = await self.its_api.status()
+                    new_state = status["state"]["open"]
+                    if (
+                        self.current_open_state is not None
+                        and new_state != self.current_open_state
+                    ):
+                        await self.announce_open_change(new_state)
+                    self.current_open_state = new_state
+                except Exception as e:
+                    pass
+
+                await asyncio.sleep(60)
+
+        asyncio.create_task(poll_for_changes())
+
+        await self.bot.main()
 
     async def on_message(self, room, message):
         m = botlib.MessageMatch(room, message, self.bot, self.config.command_prefix)
@@ -45,6 +68,23 @@ class ItSyndikatBot:
                     room.room_id, f"Unknown command: {m.command()}"
                 )
 
+    async def announce_open_change(self, now_open: bool):
+        room_ids = self.config.isitopen_announce_rooms
+        if now_open:
+            message = "opening IT-Syndikat - Ohai!"
+        else:
+            message = "closing IT-Syndikat - nap time!"
+
+        for room_id in room_ids:
+            await self.bot.api.async_client.room_send(
+                room_id=room_id,
+                message_type="m.room.message",
+                content={
+                    "msgtype": "m.notice",
+                    "body": message,
+                },
+            )
+
     async def reply(self, room, message, reply):
         await self.bot.api.async_client.room_send(
             room_id=room.room_id,
@@ -64,7 +104,9 @@ class ItSyndikatBot:
     async def isitopen(self, room, message):
         try:
             status = await self.its_api.status()
-            if status["state"]["open"]:
+            is_open = status["state"]["open"]
+            self.current_open_state = is_open
+            if is_open:
                 date = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(status["state"]["lastchange"])
                 text = f"positive! space has been open since {date}"
             else:
diff --git a/its_matrix_bot/__main__.py b/its_matrix_bot/__main__.py
index d3dafd9..7dea5ae 100644
--- a/its_matrix_bot/__main__.py
+++ b/its_matrix_bot/__main__.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import asyncio
 import argparse
 
 from . import ItSyndikatBot
@@ -12,4 +13,5 @@ parser.add_argument(
 
 args = parser.parse_args()
 
-ItSyndikatBot(Config(args.config))
+bot = ItSyndikatBot(Config(args.config))
+asyncio.run(bot.run())
diff --git a/its_matrix_bot/config.py b/its_matrix_bot/config.py
index d2425ec..f5b82ae 100644
--- a/its_matrix_bot/config.py
+++ b/its_matrix_bot/config.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import toml
+from typing import List
 
 
 class Config:
@@ -10,6 +11,8 @@ class Config:
 
     spaceping_token: str
 
+    isitopen_announce_rooms: List[str]
+
     def __init__(self, path=None):
         if path is None:
             path = "/etc/itsyndikat-bot.toml"
@@ -24,3 +27,5 @@ class Config:
         self.matrix_access_token = matrix["access_token"]
 
         self.spaceping_token = config["spaceping"]["api_token"]
+
+        self.isitopen_announce_rooms = config["isitopen"]["announce_rooms"]