diff --git a/powerline/segments/common/sys.py b/powerline/segments/common/sys.py
index f53e2c7d..a83025bf 100644
--- a/powerline/segments/common/sys.py
+++ b/powerline/segments/common/sys.py
@@ -13,7 +13,8 @@ from powerline.segments import with_docstring
 cpu_count = None
 
 
-def system_load(pl, format='{avg:.1f}', threshold_good=1, threshold_bad=2, track_cpu_count=False):
+def system_load(pl, format='{avg:.1f}', threshold_good=1, threshold_bad=2,
+                track_cpu_count=False, short=False):
 	'''Return system load average.
 
 	Highlights using ``system_load_good``, ``system_load_bad`` and
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ def system_load(pl, format='{avg:.1f}', threshold_good=1, threshold_bad=2, track
 	:param bool track_cpu_count:
 		if True powerline will continuously poll the system to detect changes
 		in the number of CPUs.
+	:param bool short:
+		if True only the sys load over last 1 minute will be displayed.
 
 	Divider highlight group used: ``background:divider``.
 
@@ -61,6 +64,10 @@ def system_load(pl, format='{avg:.1f}', threshold_good=1, threshold_bad=2, track
 			'divider_highlight_group': 'background:divider',
 			'gradient_level': gradient_level,
 		})
+
+		if short:
+		    return ret
+
 	ret[0]['contents'] += ' '
 	ret[1]['contents'] += ' '
 	return ret
diff --git a/tests/test_segments.py b/tests/test_segments.py
index 027d6227..0a7adcbf 100644
--- a/tests/test_segments.py
+++ b/tests/test_segments.py
@@ -811,6 +811,12 @@ class TestSys(TestCommon):
 					{'contents': '4 ', 'highlight_groups': ['system_load_gradient', 'system_load'], 'divider_highlight_group': 'background:divider', 'gradient_level': 100},
 					{'contents': '2', 'highlight_groups': ['system_load_gradient', 'system_load'], 'divider_highlight_group': 'background:divider', 'gradient_level': 75.0}
 				])
+				self.assertEqual(self.module.system_load(pl=pl, short=True), [
+					{'contents': '7.5', 'highlight_groups': ['system_load_gradient', 'system_load'], 'divider_highlight_group': 'background:divider', 'gradient_level': 100},
+				])
+				self.assertEqual(self.module.system_load(pl=pl, format='{avg:.0f}', threshold_good=0, threshold_bad=1, short=True), [
+					{'contents': '8', 'highlight_groups': ['system_load_gradient', 'system_load'], 'divider_highlight_group': 'background:divider', 'gradient_level': 100},
+				])
 
 	def test_cpu_load_percent(self):
 		try: