diff --git a/org/keyword.go b/org/keyword.go
index 12a8b64..1580ab9 100644
--- a/org/keyword.go
+++ b/org/keyword.go
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 package org
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
+	"log"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
@@ -52,6 +54,8 @@ func (d *Document) parseComment(i int, stop stopFn) (int, Node) {
 func (d *Document) parseKeyword(i int, stop stopFn) (int, Node) {
 	k := parseKeyword(d.tokens[i])
 	switch k.Key {
+	case "SETUP_FILE":
+		return d.loadSetupFile(k)
 	case "INCLUDE":
 		return d.newInclude(k)
 	case "CAPTION", "ATTR_HTML":
@@ -131,3 +135,28 @@ func (d *Document) newInclude(k Keyword) (int, Node) {
 	}
 	return 1, Include{k, resolve}
 }
+
+func (d *Document) loadSetupFile(k Keyword) (int, Node) {
+	path := k.Value
+	if !filepath.IsAbs(path) {
+		path = filepath.Join(filepath.Dir(d.Path), path)
+	}
+	bs, err := ioutil.ReadFile(path)
+	if err != nil {
+		if d.Debug {
+			log.Printf("Bad setup file: %#v: %s", k, err)
+		}
+		return 1, k
+	}
+	setupDocument := NewDocument().Parse(bytes.NewReader(bs))
+	if err := setupDocument.Error; err != nil {
+		if d.Debug {
+			log.Printf("Bad setup file: %#v: %s", k, err)
+		}
+		return 1, k
+	}
+	for k, v := range setupDocument.BufferSettings {
+		d.BufferSettings[k] = v
+	}
+	return 1, k
+}
diff --git a/org/testdata/headlines.html b/org/testdata/headlines.html
index bbec0a5..1ee1a69 100644
--- a/org/testdata/headlines.html
+++ b/org/testdata/headlines.html
@@ -45,3 +45,15 @@ This is inside the drawer
 <p>
 Still outside the drawer
 </p>
+<h1>
+<span class="todo">CUSTOM</span>
+headline with custom status
+</h1>
+<p>
+it&#39;s possible to use <code class="verbatim">#+SETUP_FILE</code> - in this case the setup file contains the following
+</p>
+<div class="highlight">
+<pre>
+#+TODO: TODO DONE CUSTOM
+</pre>
+</div>
diff --git a/org/testdata/headlines.org b/org/testdata/headlines.org
index cc98965..f498598 100644
--- a/org/testdata/headlines.org
+++ b/org/testdata/headlines.org
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#+SETUP_FILE: setup_file_org
 * Simple Headline [1/2]
 - [X] checked
 - [ ] unchecked
@@ -18,3 +19,7 @@ Still outside the drawer
 This is inside the drawer
 :END:
 Still outside the drawer
+* CUSTOM headline with custom status
+it's possible to use =#+SETUP_FILE= - in this case the setup file contains the following
+
+#+INCLUDE: "setup_file_org" src org
diff --git a/org/testdata/headlines.pretty_org b/org/testdata/headlines.pretty_org
index 69e24da..c9adde0 100644
--- a/org/testdata/headlines.pretty_org
+++ b/org/testdata/headlines.pretty_org
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+#+SETUP_FILE: setup_file_org
 * Simple Headline [1/2]
 - [X] checked
 - [ ] unchecked
@@ -18,3 +19,7 @@ Still outside the drawer
 This is inside the drawer
 :END:
 Still outside the drawer
+* CUSTOM headline with custom status
+it's possible to use =#+SETUP_FILE= - in this case the setup file contains the following
+
+#+INCLUDE: "setup_file_org" src org
diff --git a/org/testdata/misc.html b/org/testdata/misc.html
index f10d0ef..fb40dd4 100644
--- a/org/testdata/misc.html
+++ b/org/testdata/misc.html
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ src block
 </p>
 <div class="highlight">
 <pre>
+#+SETUP_FILE: setup_file_org
 * Simple Headline [1/2]
 - [X] checked
 - [ ] unchecked
@@ -63,6 +64,10 @@ Still outside the drawer
 This is inside the drawer
 :END:
 Still outside the drawer
+* CUSTOM headline with custom status
+it&#39;s possible to use =#+SETUP_FILE= - in this case the setup file contains the following
+
+#+INCLUDE: &#34;setup_file_org&#34; src org
 </pre>
 </div>
 </li>
diff --git a/org/testdata/setup_file_org b/org/testdata/setup_file_org
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c9a4436
--- /dev/null
+++ b/org/testdata/setup_file_org
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#+TODO: TODO DONE CUSTOM