diff --git a/harborwatch/checks.py b/harborwatch/checks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..70512e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/harborwatch/checks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+"""Fleet status checks."""
+
+
+def fleet_status(service_name):
+    # Placeholder until the real deploy API client is wired up.
+    return f"{service_name}: status check not yet implemented"
diff --git a/tests/test_checks.py b/tests/test_checks.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..01d87ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_checks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from harborwatch.checks import fleet_status
+
+
+def test_placeholder_status():
+    assert "not yet implemented" in fleet_status("routeforge")