diff --git a/api/queries_pr.go b/api/queries_pr.go
index 273f95f40..b40b9a32e 100644
--- a/api/queries_pr.go
+++ b/api/queries_pr.go
@@ -16,10 +16,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 type PullRequestsPayload struct {
-	ViewerCreated   PullRequestAndTotalCount
-	ReviewRequested PullRequestAndTotalCount
-	CurrentPR       *PullRequest
-	DefaultBranch   string
+	ViewerCreated    PullRequestAndTotalCount
+	ReviewRequested  PullRequestAndTotalCount
+	CurrentPR        *PullRequest
+	DefaultBranch    string
+	StrictProtection bool
 }
 
 type PullRequestAndTotalCount struct {
@@ -302,7 +303,10 @@ func PullRequests(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, currentPRNumber int, cu
 	type response struct {
 		Repository struct {
 			DefaultBranchRef struct {
-				Name string
+				Name                 string
+				BranchProtectionRule struct {
+					RequiresStrictStatusChecks bool
+				}
 			}
 			PullRequests edges
 			PullRequest  *PullRequest
@@ -371,7 +375,12 @@ func PullRequests(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, currentPRNumber int, cu
 	queryPrefix := `
 	query PullRequestStatus($owner: String!, $repo: String!, $headRefName: String!, $viewerQuery: String!, $reviewerQuery: String!, $per_page: Int = 10) {
 		repository(owner: $owner, name: $repo) {
-			defaultBranchRef { name }
+			defaultBranchRef { 
+				name 
+				branchProtectionRule {
+					requiresStrictStatusChecks
+				}
+			}
 			pullRequests(headRefName: $headRefName, first: $per_page, orderBy: { field: CREATED_AT, direction: DESC }) {
 				totalCount
 				edges {
@@ -386,7 +395,12 @@ func PullRequests(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, currentPRNumber int, cu
 		queryPrefix = `
 		query PullRequestStatus($owner: String!, $repo: String!, $number: Int!, $viewerQuery: String!, $reviewerQuery: String!, $per_page: Int = 10) {
 			repository(owner: $owner, name: $repo) {
-				defaultBranchRef { name }
+			defaultBranchRef { 
+				name 
+				branchProtectionRule {
+					requiresStrictStatusChecks
+				}
+			}
 				pullRequest(number: $number) {
 					...prWithReviews
 				}
@@ -473,8 +487,9 @@ func PullRequests(client *Client, repo ghrepo.Interface, currentPRNumber int, cu
 			PullRequests: reviewRequested,
 			TotalCount:   resp.ReviewRequested.TotalCount,
 		},
-		CurrentPR:     currentPR,
-		DefaultBranch: resp.Repository.DefaultBranchRef.Name,
+		CurrentPR:        currentPR,
+		DefaultBranch:    resp.Repository.DefaultBranchRef.Name,
+		StrictProtection: resp.Repository.DefaultBranchRef.BranchProtectionRule.RequiresStrictStatusChecks,
 	}
 
 	return &payload, nil
diff --git a/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go b/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go
index 3758a9d67..5a210941a 100644
--- a/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go
+++ b/pkg/cmd/pr/status/status.go
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 		currentPR = nil
 	}
 	if currentPR != nil {
-		printPrs(opts.IO, 1, *currentPR)
+		printPrs(opts.IO, 1, prPayload.StrictProtection, *currentPR)
 	} else if currentPRHeadRef == "" {
 		shared.PrintMessage(opts.IO, "  There is no current branch")
 	} else {
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 
 	shared.PrintHeader(opts.IO, "Created by you")
 	if prPayload.ViewerCreated.TotalCount > 0 {
-		printPrs(opts.IO, prPayload.ViewerCreated.TotalCount, prPayload.ViewerCreated.PullRequests...)
+		printPrs(opts.IO, prPayload.ViewerCreated.TotalCount, prPayload.StrictProtection, prPayload.ViewerCreated.PullRequests...)
 	} else {
 		shared.PrintMessage(opts.IO, "  You have no open pull requests")
 	}
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func statusRun(opts *StatusOptions) error {
 
 	shared.PrintHeader(opts.IO, "Requesting a code review from you")
 	if prPayload.ReviewRequested.TotalCount > 0 {
-		printPrs(opts.IO, prPayload.ReviewRequested.TotalCount, prPayload.ReviewRequested.PullRequests...)
+		printPrs(opts.IO, prPayload.ReviewRequested.TotalCount, prPayload.StrictProtection, prPayload.ReviewRequested.PullRequests...)
 	} else {
 		shared.PrintMessage(opts.IO, "  You have no pull requests to review")
 	}
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ func prSelectorForCurrentBranch(baseRepo ghrepo.Interface, prHeadRef string, rem
 	return
 }
 
-func printPrs(io *iostreams.IOStreams, totalCount int, prs ...api.PullRequest) {
+func printPrs(io *iostreams.IOStreams, totalCount int, strictProtection bool, prs ...api.PullRequest) {
 	w := io.Out
 	cs := io.ColorScheme()
 
@@ -228,13 +228,16 @@ func printPrs(io *iostreams.IOStreams, totalCount int, prs ...api.PullRequest) {
 				fmt.Fprint(w, cs.Green("✓ Approved"))
 			}
 
-			// add padding between reviews & merge status
-			fmt.Fprint(w, " ")
+			// only check if the "up to date" setting is checked in repo settings
+			if strictProtection {
+				// add padding between reviews & merge status
+				fmt.Fprint(w, " ")
 
-			if pr.MergeStateStatus == "BEHIND" {
-				fmt.Fprint(w, cs.Yellow("- Not up to date"))
-			} else {
-				fmt.Fprint(w, cs.Green("✓ Up to date"))
+				if pr.MergeStateStatus == "BEHIND" {
+					fmt.Fprint(w, cs.Yellow("- Not up to date"))
+				} else {
+					fmt.Fprint(w, cs.Green("✓ Up to date"))
+				}
 			}
 
 		} else {