diff --git a/governor.py b/governor.py
index d12c7093..27102d88 100755
--- a/governor.py
+++ b/governor.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import sys
 import time
 import yaml
 
+from helpers.api import RestApiServer
 from helpers.etcd import Etcd
 from helpers.postgresql import Postgresql
 from helpers.ha import Ha
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ def main():
     governor = Governor(config)
     try:
         governor.initialize()
+        RestApiServer(governor).start()
         governor.run()
     finally:
         governor.postgresql.stop()
diff --git a/helpers/api.py b/helpers/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6269a83c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,69 @@
+import json
+import logging
+import psycopg2
+import sys
+
+from threading import Thread
+
+if sys.hexversion >= 0x03000000:
+    from http.server import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
+else:
+    from BaseHTTPServer import BaseHTTPRequestHandler, HTTPServer
+
+
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class RestApiHandler(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
+
+    def do_GET(self):
+        try:
+            response = self.get_postgresql_status()
+        except (psycopg2.OperationalError, psycopg2.InterfaceError):
+            response = {'running': False}
+
+        path = '/master' if self.path == '/' else self.path
+        status_code = 200 if response['running'] and response['role'] in path else 503
+
+        self.send_response(status_code)
+        self.send_header('Content-Type', 'application/json')
+        self.end_headers()
+        self.wfile.write(json.dumps(response).encode('utf-8'))
+
+    def get_postgresql_status(self):
+        if not self.server.governor.postgresql.is_running():
+            return {'running': False}
+        cursor = self.server.cursor()
+        cursor.execute("""SELECT to_char(pg_postmaster_start_time(), 'YYYY-MM-DD HH24:MI:SS.MS TZ'),
+                                 pg_is_in_recovery(),
+                                 pg_current_xlog_location(),
+                                 pg_last_xlog_receive_location(),
+                                 pg_last_xlog_replay_location(),
+                                 pg_is_in_recovery() AND pg_is_xlog_replay_paused()""")
+        row = cursor.fetchone()
+        return {
+            'running': True,
+            'postmaster_start_time': row[0],
+            'role': 'slave' if row[1] else 'master',
+            'xlog': ({
+                'received_location': row[3],
+                'replayed_location': row[4],
+                'paused': row[5]} if row[1] else {
+                'location': row[2]
+            })
+        }
+
+
+class RestApiServer(HTTPServer, Thread):
+
+    def __init__(self, governor, listen_address='0.0.0.0', listen_port=8080):
+        HTTPServer.__init__(self, (listen_address, listen_port), RestApiHandler)
+        Thread.__init__(self, target=self.serve_forever)
+        self.governor = governor
+        self._cursor_holder = None
+        self.daemon = True
+
+    def cursor(self):
+        if not self._cursor_holder or self._cursor_holder.closed != 0:
+            self._cursor_holder = self.governor.postgresql.connection().cursor()
+        return self._cursor_holder
diff --git a/tests/test_api.py b/tests/test_api.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6b117b48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+import psycopg2
+import sys
+import unittest
+
+from helpers.api import RestApiHandler, RestApiServer
+from test_postgresql import psycopg2_connect
+
+if sys.hexversion >= 0x03000000:
+    from io import BytesIO as IO
+else:
+    from StringIO import StringIO as IO
+
+
+def false(*args, **kwargs):
+    return False
+
+
+def throws(*args, **kwargs):
+    raise psycopg2.OperationalError()
+
+
+class MockPostgresql:
+
+    def connection(self):
+        return psycopg2_connect()
+
+    def is_running(self):
+        return True
+
+
+class MockGovernor:
+
+    def __init__(self):
+        self.postgresql = MockPostgresql()
+
+
+class MockRequest:
+
+    def __init__(self, path):
+        self.path = path
+
+    def makefile(self, *args, **kwargs):
+        return IO(self.path)
+
+
+class MockRestApiServer(RestApiServer):
+
+    def __init__(self, Handler, path, *args):
+        self.governor = MockGovernor()
+        if len(args) > 0:
+            self.governor.postgresql.is_running = args[0]
+        self._cursor_holder = None
+        Handler(MockRequest(path), ('0.0.0.0', 8080), self)
+
+
+class TestRestApiHandler(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    def __init__(self, method_name='runTest'):
+        super(TestRestApiHandler, self).__init__(method_name)
+
+    def test_do_GET(self):
+        MockRestApiServer(RestApiHandler, b'GET /')
+        MockRestApiServer(RestApiHandler, b'GET /', throws)
+
+    def test_get_postgresql_status(self):
+        MockRestApiServer(RestApiHandler, b'GET /', false)