diff --git a/iOS/RCTOrientation/Orientation.m b/iOS/RCTOrientation/Orientation.m
index d0fd2701..dfc28a32 100644
--- a/iOS/RCTOrientation/Orientation.m
+++ b/iOS/RCTOrientation/Orientation.m
@@ -62,7 +62,25 @@ - (NSString *)getOrientationStr: (UIDeviceOrientation)orientation {
       break;
 
     default:
-      orientationStr = @"UNKNOWN";
+      // orientation is unknown, we try to get the status bar orientation
+      switch ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] statusBarOrientation]) {
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationPortrait:
+          orientationStr = @"PORTRAIT";
+          break;
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeLeft:
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeRight:
+
+          orientationStr = @"LANDSCAPE";
+          break;
+
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationPortraitUpsideDown:
+          orientationStr = @"PORTRAITUPSIDEDOWN";
+          break;
+
+        default:
+          orientationStr = @"UNKNOWN";
+          break;
+      }
       break;
   }
   return orientationStr;
@@ -88,7 +106,25 @@ - (NSString *)getSpecificOrientationStr: (UIDeviceOrientation)orientation {
       break;
 
     default:
-      orientationStr = @"UNKNOWN";
+      // orientation is unknown, we try to get the status bar orientation
+      switch ([[UIApplication sharedApplication] statusBarOrientation]) {
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationPortrait:
+          orientationStr = @"PORTRAIT";
+          break;
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeLeft:
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationLandscapeRight:
+
+          orientationStr = @"LANDSCAPE";
+          break;
+
+        case UIInterfaceOrientationPortraitUpsideDown:
+          orientationStr = @"PORTRAITUPSIDEDOWN";
+          break;
+
+        default:
+          orientationStr = @"UNKNOWN";
+          break;
+      }
       break;
   }
   return orientationStr;