diff --git a/api/storage_service.cc b/api/storage_service.cc
index e1fe2e841e..c15e214fa5 100644
--- a/api/storage_service.cc
+++ b/api/storage_service.cc
@@ -311,9 +311,8 @@ void set_storage_service(http_context& ctx, routes& r) {
         return make_ready_future<json::json_return_type>(mode);
     });
 
-    ss::is_starting.set(r, [](std::unique_ptr<request> req) {
-        //TBD
-        return make_ready_future<json::json_return_type>(false);
+    ss::is_starting.set(r, [](const_req req) {
+        return service::get_local_storage_service().is_starting();
     });
 
     ss::get_drain_progress.set(r, [](std::unique_ptr<request> req) {