diff --git a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java
index e77b576..2984179 100644
--- a/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java
+++ b/src/org/openstreetmap/josm/gui/MapStatus.java
@@ -182,9 +182,9 @@ public class MapStatus extends JPanel implements Helpful, Destroyable, Preferenc
     }
 
     private final ImageLabel latText = new ImageLabel("lat",
-            tr("The geographic latitude at the mouse pointer."), 11, PROP_BACKGROUND_COLOR.get());
+            null, 11, PROP_BACKGROUND_COLOR.get());
     private final ImageLabel lonText = new ImageLabel("lon",
-            tr("The geographic longitude at the mouse pointer."), 11, PROP_BACKGROUND_COLOR.get());
+            null, 11, PROP_BACKGROUND_COLOR.get());
     private final ImageLabel headingText = new ImageLabel("heading",
             tr("The (compass) heading of the line segment being drawn."),
             ONE_DECIMAL_PLACE.format(360).length() + 1, PROP_BACKGROUND_COLOR.get());
@@ -869,6 +869,13 @@ public class MapStatus extends JPanel implements Helpful, Destroyable, Preferenc
                     LatLon p = mv.getLatLon(e.getX(), e.getY());
                     latText.setText(p.latToString(mCord));
                     lonText.setText(p.lonToString(mCord));
+                    if (CoordinateFormat.EAST_NORTH.equals(mCord)) {
+                        latText.setToolTipText(tr("The northing at the mouse pointer."));
+                        lonText.setToolTipText(tr("The easting at the mouse pointer."));
+                    } else {
+                        latText.setToolTipText(tr("The geographic latitude at the mouse pointer."));
+                        lonText.setToolTipText(tr("The geographic longitude at the mouse pointer."));
+                    }
                 }
             }
         });