diff --git a/js/ui/panel.js b/js/ui/panel.js
index 24ac5d240..a7f682769 100644
--- a/js/ui/panel.js
+++ b/js/ui/panel.js
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ Panel.prototype = {
 
         let statusbox = new Big.Box();
         let statusmenu = this._statusmenu = new Shell.StatusMenu();
+        statusmenu.get_name().fontName = 'Sans Bold 16px';
         statusbox.append(this._statusmenu, Big.BoxPackFlags.NONE);
         let statusbutton = new Button.Button(statusbox, PANEL_BUTTON_COLOR, PRESSED_BUTTON_BACKGROUND_COLOR,
                                              true, null, PANEL_HEIGHT);
diff --git a/src/shell-status-menu.c b/src/shell-status-menu.c
index fa0be00b9..4507d6a78 100644
--- a/src/shell-status-menu.c
+++ b/src/shell-status-menu.c
@@ -117,12 +117,9 @@ static void
 update_name_text (ShellStatusMenu *status)
 {
   ShellStatusMenuPrivate *priv = status->priv;
-  char      *markup;
 
-  markup = g_markup_printf_escaped("<b>%s</b>",
-                                   gdm_user_get_real_name (GDM_USER (priv->user)));
-  clutter_text_set_markup (priv->name, markup);
-  g_free (markup);
+  clutter_text_set_text (priv->name,
+                         gdm_user_get_real_name (GDM_USER (priv->user)));
 }
 
 static void
@@ -655,3 +652,27 @@ shell_status_menu_toggle (ShellStatusMenu *status, ClutterEvent *event)
           status, 1, event->button.time);
     }
 }
+
+/**
+ * shell_status_menu_get_name:
+ * @menu: a #ShellStatusMenu
+ *
+ * Return value: (transfer none): the #ClutterText actor with the user's name.
+ */
+ClutterText *
+shell_status_menu_get_name (ShellStatusMenu *menu)
+{
+  return menu->priv->name;
+}
+
+/**
+ * shell_status_menu_get_icon:
+ * @menu: a #ShellStatusMenu
+ *
+ * Return value: (transfer none): the #ClutterTexture actor with the user icon.
+ */
+ClutterTexture *
+shell_status_menu_get_icon (ShellStatusMenu *menu)
+{
+  return menu->priv->user_icon;
+}
diff --git a/src/shell-status-menu.h b/src/shell-status-menu.h
index d31dca67b..983174187 100644
--- a/src/shell-status-menu.h
+++ b/src/shell-status-menu.h
@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ GType             shell_status_menu_get_type     (void);
 
 void              shell_status_menu_toggle       (ShellStatusMenu *menu, ClutterEvent *event);
 
+ClutterText      *shell_status_menu_get_name     (ShellStatusMenu *menu);
+ClutterTexture   *shell_status_menu_get_icon     (ShellStatusMenu *menu);
+
 G_END_DECLS
 
 #endif /* __SHELL_STATUS_MENU_H__ */