diff --git a/jupyter-openbis-extension/static/connectionDialog.js b/jupyter-openbis-extension/static/connectionDialog.js
index f61eb9490776d06fae69d68ba35507cab36f6279..cbdd45ce6b2b63a49436650242766821a77738b8 100644
--- a/jupyter-openbis-extension/static/connectionDialog.js
+++ b/jupyter-openbis-extension/static/connectionDialog.js
@@ -91,12 +91,15 @@ define(
                 password.value = connection.password
                 password.setAttribute("form", connection.name)
 
+
                 // Username / Password form
                 let pwform = document.createElement("FORM")
                 pwform.id = connection.name
                 pwform.onsubmit = function (event) {
                     let form_data = new FormData(this)
                     let status_badge = document.getElementById(this.id + "-badge")
+                    status_badge.textContent = "connecting..."
+                    status_badge.className = "label label-warning"
                     connections.connect(env, this.id,
                             form_data.get("username"), form_data.get("password")
                         )