diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/proguard.flags b/packages/SystemUI/proguard.flags
index 9ccc5a95633b4..72bd77666aff7 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/proguard.flags
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/proguard.flags
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 -keep class com.android.systemui.statusbar.tablet.TabletStatusBarService {
   public void notificationIconsClicked(android.view.View);
   public void systemInfoClicked(android.view.View);
+  public void recentButtonClicked(android.view.View);
 }
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable/status_bar_recent.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable/status_bar_recent.xml
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000..d708455f0cb50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/drawable/status_bar_recent.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
+<!-- Copyright (C) 2008 The Android Open Source Project
+
+     Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+     you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+     You may obtain a copy of the License at
+
+          http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+
+     Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+     distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+     WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+     See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+     limitations under the License.
+-->
+
+<selector xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
+    <item android:state_pressed="true" android:drawable="@drawable/status_bar_recent_pressed" />
+    <item android:drawable="@drawable/status_bar_recent_default" />
+</selector>
+
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-xlarge/status_bar.xml b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-xlarge/status_bar.xml
index 481bcde0a500a..a0c2c95040045 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-xlarge/status_bar.xml
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/res/layout-xlarge/status_bar.xml
@@ -118,12 +118,21 @@
         <com.android.systemui.statusbar.KeyButtonView android:id="@+id/menu"
             android:layout_width="wrap_content"
             android:layout_height="match_parent"
-            android:layout_toLeftOf="@+id/home"
+            android:layout_toLeftOf="@+id/recent"
             android:src="@drawable/status_bar_menu"
             android:paddingLeft="4dip"
             android:paddingRight="4dip"
             systemui:keyCode="82"
             />
+        <Button android:id="@+id/recent"
+            android:layout_width="wrap_content"
+            android:layout_height="match_parent"
+            android:layout_toLeftOf="@+id/home"
+            android:background="@drawable/status_bar_recent"
+            android:paddingLeft="4dip"
+            android:paddingRight="4dip"
+            android:onClick="recentButtonClicked"
+            />
         <com.android.systemui.statusbar.KeyButtonView android:id="@+id/home"
             android:layout_width="wrap_content"
             android:layout_height="match_parent"
diff --git a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/tablet/TabletStatusBarService.java b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/tablet/TabletStatusBarService.java
index 087671ac78144..312c5f44a8075 100644
--- a/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/tablet/TabletStatusBarService.java
+++ b/packages/SystemUI/src/com/android/systemui/statusbar/tablet/TabletStatusBarService.java
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ import android.app.Notification;
 import android.app.PendingIntent;
 import android.app.Service;
 import android.app.StatusBarManager;
+import android.content.ActivityNotFoundException;
 import android.content.Context;
 import android.content.Intent;
 import android.content.res.Resources;
@@ -495,6 +496,15 @@ public class TabletStatusBarService extends StatusBarService {
         mHandler.sendEmptyMessage(msg);
     }
 
+    public void recentButtonClicked(View v) {
+        if (DEBUG) Slog.d(TAG, "clicked recent apps");
+        Intent intent = new Intent();
+        intent.setClass(this, RecentApplicationsActivity.class);
+        intent.setFlags(Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_NEW_TASK
+                | Intent.FLAG_ACTIVITY_EXCLUDE_FROM_RECENTS);
+        startActivity(intent);
+    }
+
     /**
      * Cancel this notification and tell the status bar service about the failure. Hold no locks.
      */