diff --git a/docs/nmap.dtd b/docs/nmap.dtd
index 614d91f1e..3ae092771 100644
--- a/docs/nmap.dtd
+++ b/docs/nmap.dtd
@@ -153,7 +153,8 @@
 <!-- these elements are written by output.c:write_xml_initial_hostinfo() -->
 <!ELEMENT status	EMPTY >
 <!ATTLIST status	state		%host_states;	#REQUIRED 
-		  reason	CDATA		#REQUIRED 
+		  reason	    CDATA	#REQUIRED 
+		  reason_ttl	CDATA	#REQUIRED			
  >
 
 <!ELEMENT address	EMPTY >
diff --git a/output.cc b/output.cc
index e6b35b611..4bc1a92a4 100644
--- a/output.cc
+++ b/output.cc
@@ -1272,6 +1272,7 @@ static void write_xml_initial_hostinfo(Target *currenths,
   xml_open_start_tag("status");
   xml_attribute("state", "%s", status);
   xml_attribute("reason", "%s", reason_str(currenths->reason.reason_id, SINGULAR));
+  xml_attribute("reason_ttl", "%d", currenths->reason.ttl);
   xml_close_empty_tag();
   xml_newline();
   xml_open_start_tag("address");