diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index ed0171c39..69b92a95b 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 export(create_package)
 export(use_apl2_license)
 export(use_appveyor)
+export(use_badge)
 export(use_build_ignore)
 export(use_code_of_conduct)
 export(use_coverage)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 2166554e5..66400945e 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 # usethis 0.0.0.9000
 
+* New `use_badge()` for adding any badge to a README. Now only prints a 
+  todo message if the badge does not already exist.
+
 * `use_revdep()` creates structure for use with revdepcheck package, the
   preferred way to run revdepchecks. (#33)
 
diff --git a/R/badge.R b/R/badge.R
index 69303e7ba..1e0e549d1 100644
--- a/R/badge.R
+++ b/R/badge.R
@@ -16,12 +16,31 @@ use_cran_badge <- function(base_path = ".") {
   invisible(TRUE)
 }
 
+#' Use a README badge
+#'
+#' @param badge_name Badge name. Used in error message and alt text
+#' @param href,src Badge link and image src
+#' @inheritParams use_template
+#' @export
 use_badge <- function(badge_name, href, src, base_path = ".") {
+  if (has_badge(href, base_path)) {
+    return(FALSE)
+  }
+
   img <- paste0("![", badge_name, "](", src, ")")
   link <- paste0("[", img, "](", href, ")")
 
-  todo(
-    "Add a ", badge_name, " badge by adding the following line to your README:",
-    link
-  )
+  todo("Add a ", badge_name, " badge by adding the following line to your README:")
+  code_block(link)
+}
+
+has_badge <- function(href, base_path = ".") {
+  readme_path <- file.path(base_path, "README.md")
+  if (!file.exists(readme_path)) {
+    return(FALSE)
+  }
+
+  readme <- readLines(readme_path)
+  any(grepl(href, readme, fixed = TRUE))
+
 }
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0c7d93a6c..4b9d4ff13 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 [![Travis build status](https://travis-ci.org/r-lib/usethis.svg?branch=master)](https://travis-ci.org/r-lib/usethis)
 [![codecov](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis/branch/master/graph/badge.svg)](https://codecov.io/gh/r-lib/usethis)
+[![CRAN status](http://www.r-pkg.org/badges/version/usethis)](https://cran.r-project.org/package=usethis)
 
 The goal of usethis is to automate many common package and analysis setup tasks.
 
diff --git a/man/use_badge.Rd b/man/use_badge.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c45225dfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/use_badge.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/badge.R
+\name{use_badge}
+\alias{use_badge}
+\title{Use a README badge}
+\usage{
+use_badge(badge_name, href, src, base_path = ".")
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{badge_name}{Badge name. Used in error message and alt text}
+
+\item{href, src}{Badge link and image src}
+
+\item{base_path}{Path to package root.}
+}
+\description{
+Use a README badge
+}