diff --git a/README b/README
index d217f26..c3edb1c 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -11,4 +11,6 @@ Options:
   --testnet            use testnet subdirectory and address type
   --reserve            import as a reserve key, i.e. it won't show in the
                        adress book
+  --balance=KEY_BALANCE
+                        prints balance of KEY_BALANCE
 
diff --git a/pywallet.py b/pywallet.py
index f899ac5..cbda67f 100755
--- a/pywallet.py
+++ b/pywallet.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import string
 import exceptions
 import hashlib
 import random
+import urllib
 
 max_version = 32500
 addrtype = 0
@@ -792,6 +793,16 @@ def importprivkey(db, sec, label, reserve):
 
 	return True
 
+def balance(site, address):
+	page=urllib.urlopen("%s=%s" % (site, address))
+	json_acc = json.loads(page.read().split("<end>")[0])
+	if json_acc['0'] == 0:
+		return "Invalid address"
+	elif json_acc['0'] == 2:
+		return "Never used"
+	else:
+		return json_acc['balance']
+
 from optparse import OptionParser
 
 def main():
@@ -823,8 +834,15 @@ def main():
 	parser.add_option("--reserve", dest="reserve", action="store_true",
 		help="import as a reserve key, i.e. it won't show in the adress book")
 
+	parser.add_option("--balance", dest="key_balance",
+		help="prints balance of KEY_BALANCE")
+
 	(options, args) = parser.parse_args()
 
+	if options.key_balance is not None:
+		print(balance('http://bitcoin.site50.net/balance.php?adresse', options.key_balance))
+		exit(0)
+
 	if options.dump is None and options.key is None:
 		print "A mandatory option is missing\n"
 		parser.print_help()