diff --git a/MTStatusBarOverlay.h b/MTStatusBarOverlay.h
index 5a7ca0b..da927ed 100755
--- a/MTStatusBarOverlay.h
+++ b/MTStatusBarOverlay.h
@@ -116,7 +116,8 @@ typedef enum MTMessageType {
 @property (nonatomic, copy) NSString *detailText;
 // the delegate of the overlay
 @property (nonatomic, unsafe_unretained) id<MTStatusBarOverlayDelegate> delegate;
-
+// default is what the app sets
+@property(nonatomic) UIStatusBarStyle statusBarStyle;
 
 //===========================================================
 #pragma mark -
diff --git a/MTStatusBarOverlay.m b/MTStatusBarOverlay.m
index 884bc2e..43f950c 100755
--- a/MTStatusBarOverlay.m
+++ b/MTStatusBarOverlay.m
@@ -279,6 +279,8 @@ @implementation MTStatusBarOverlay
 
 - (id)initWithFrame:(CGRect)frame {
     if ((self = [super initWithFrame:frame])) {
+        self.statusBarStyle = [UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarStyle;
+
         CGRect statusBarFrame = [UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarFrame;
         
 		// only use height of 20px even is status bar is doubled
@@ -673,7 +675,7 @@ - (void)showNextMessage {
 	[NSObject cancelPreviousPerformRequestsWithTarget:self selector:@selector(clearHistory) object:nil];
     
 	// update UI depending on current status bar style
-	UIStatusBarStyle statusBarStyle = [UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarStyle;
+	UIStatusBarStyle statusBarStyle = self.statusBarStyle;
 	[self setStatusBarBackgroundForStyle:statusBarStyle];
 	[self setColorSchemeForStatusBarStyle:statusBarStyle messageType:messageType];
 	[self updateUIForMessageType:messageType duration:duration];
@@ -991,7 +993,7 @@ - (void)setShrinked:(BOOL)shrinked animated:(BOOL)animated {
 						 }
                          
 						 // update status bar background
-						 [self setStatusBarBackgroundForStyle:[UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarStyle];
+						 [self setStatusBarBackgroundForStyle:self.statusBarStyle];
 					 }];
 }
 
@@ -1072,10 +1074,10 @@ - (UITableViewCell *)tableView:(UITableView *)tableView cellForRowAtIndexPath:(N
 		cell = [[UITableViewCell alloc] initWithStyle:UITableViewCellStyleValue1 reuseIdentifier:cellID];
         
 		cell.textLabel.font = [UIFont boldSystemFontOfSize:10];
-		cell.textLabel.textColor = [UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarStyle == UIStatusBarStyleDefault ? kLightThemeHistoryTextColor : kDarkThemeHistoryTextColor;
+		cell.textLabel.textColor = self.statusBarStyle == UIStatusBarStyleDefault ? kLightThemeHistoryTextColor : kDarkThemeHistoryTextColor;
         
 		cell.detailTextLabel.font = [UIFont boldSystemFontOfSize:12];
-		cell.detailTextLabel.textColor = [UIApplication sharedApplication].statusBarStyle == UIStatusBarStyleDefault ? kLightThemeHistoryTextColor : kDarkThemeHistoryTextColor;
+		cell.detailTextLabel.textColor = self.statusBarStyle == UIStatusBarStyleDefault ? kLightThemeHistoryTextColor : kDarkThemeHistoryTextColor;
 	}
     
 	// step 3: set up cell value