diff --git a/docs/source/deploy.rst b/docs/source/deploy.rst
index 5f8689793..eb83baf35 100644
--- a/docs/source/deploy.rst
+++ b/docs/source/deploy.rst
@@ -247,7 +247,8 @@ to the newly created unix socket:
 
     [Service]
     # gunicorn can let systemd know when it is ready
-    Type=notify
+    # if systemd versions >= v253, otherwise use 'Type=notify'
+    Type=notify-reload
     NotifyAccess=main
     # the specific user that our service will run as
     User=someuser
@@ -257,7 +258,8 @@ to the newly created unix socket:
     RuntimeDirectory=gunicorn
     WorkingDirectory=/home/someuser/applicationroot
     ExecStart=/usr/bin/gunicorn applicationname.wsgi
-    ExecReload=/bin/kill -s HUP $MAINPID
+    # if 'Type=notify' instead of 'Type=notify-reload' (depending on systemd version)
+    # ExecReload=/bin/kill -s HUP $MAINPID
     KillMode=mixed
     TimeoutStopSec=5
     PrivateTmp=true
diff --git a/gunicorn/arbiter.py b/gunicorn/arbiter.py
index 646d684ef..4d3337dce 100644
--- a/gunicorn/arbiter.py
+++ b/gunicorn/arbiter.py
@@ -251,7 +251,9 @@ def handle_hup(self):
         - Gracefully shutdown the old worker processes
         """
         self.log.info("Hang up: %s", self.master_name)
+        systemd.sd_notify("RELOADING=1\nSTATUS=Gunicorn arbiter reloading", self.log)
         self.reload()
+        systemd.sd_notify("READY=1\nSTATUS=Gunicorn arbiter reloaded", self.log)
 
     def handle_term(self):
         "SIGTERM handling"
@@ -340,6 +342,7 @@ def wakeup(self):
 
     def halt(self, reason=None, exit_status=0):
         """ halt arbiter """
+        systemd.sd_notify("STOPPING=1\nSTATUS=Gunicorn arbiter stopping", self.log)
         self.stop()
 
         log_func = self.log.info if exit_status == 0 else self.log.error
diff --git a/gunicorn/systemd.py b/gunicorn/systemd.py
index 9b1855060..50351c0bb 100644
--- a/gunicorn/systemd.py
+++ b/gunicorn/systemd.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 
 import os
 import socket
+import time
 
 SD_LISTEN_FDS_START = 3
 
@@ -66,6 +67,8 @@ def sd_notify(state, logger, unset_environment=False):
         if addr[0] == '@':
             addr = '\0' + addr[1:]
         sock.connect(addr)
+        monotonic_usecs = time.clock_gettime_ns(time.CLOCK_MONOTONIC) // 1000
+        state = "%s\nMONOTONIC_USEC=%d" % (state, monotonic_usecs)
         sock.sendall(state.encode('utf-8'))
     except Exception:
         logger.debug("Exception while invoking sd_notify()", exc_info=True)