diff --git a/modules/forum/forum-list.tpl.php b/modules/forum/forum-list.tpl.php
index 156b1c8..257cea9 100644
--- a/modules/forum/forum-list.tpl.php
+++ b/modules/forum/forum-list.tpl.php
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
  * - $forum->depth: How deep the forum is in the current hierarchy.
  * - $forum->zebra: 'even' or 'odd' string used for row class.
  * - $forum->icon_class: 'default' or 'new' string used for forum icon class.
+ * - $forum->icon_title: Text alternative for the forum icon.
  * - $forum->name: The name of the forum.
  * - $forum->link: The URL to link to this forum.
  * - $forum->description: The description of this forum.
@@ -49,7 +50,9 @@
                * left-margin for indenting.
                */ ?>
         <?php print str_repeat('<div class="indent">', $forum->depth); ?>
-          <div class="icon forum-status-<?php print $forum->icon_class; ?>"></div>
+          <div class="icon forum-status-<?php print $forum->icon_class; ?>" title="<?php print $forum->icon_title; ?>">
+            <span class="element-invisible"><?php print $forum->icon_title; ?></span>
+          </div>
           <div class="name"><a href="<?php print $forum->link; ?>"><?php print $forum->name; ?></a></div>
           <?php if ($forum->description): ?>
             <div class="description"><?php print $forum->description; ?></div>
diff --git a/modules/forum/forum.module b/modules/forum/forum.module
index 5ebac30..3759294 100644
--- a/modules/forum/forum.module
+++ b/modules/forum/forum.module
@@ -1065,12 +1065,14 @@ function template_preprocess_forum_list(&$variables) {
     $variables['forums'][$id]->new_topics = 0;
     $variables['forums'][$id]->old_topics = $forum->num_topics;
     $variables['forums'][$id]->icon_class = 'default';
+    $variables['forums'][$id]->icon_title = '';
     if ($user->uid) {
       $variables['forums'][$id]->new_topics = _forum_topics_unread($forum->tid, $user->uid);
       if ($variables['forums'][$id]->new_topics) {
         $variables['forums'][$id]->new_text = format_plural($variables['forums'][$id]->new_topics, '1 new', '@count new');
         $variables['forums'][$id]->new_url = url("forum/$forum->tid", array('fragment' => 'new'));
         $variables['forums'][$id]->icon_class = 'new';
+        $variables['forums'][$id]->icon_title = t('New comments');
       }
       $variables['forums'][$id]->old_topics = $forum->num_topics - $variables['forums'][$id]->new_topics;
     }