diff --git a/include/libvirt/libvirt.h.in b/include/libvirt/libvirt.h.in
index 89c42d5ad8..0787f18249 100644
--- a/include/libvirt/libvirt.h.in
+++ b/include/libvirt/libvirt.h.in
@@ -2655,6 +2655,7 @@ int virInterfaceIsActive(virInterfacePtr iface);
 
 int virConnectIsEncrypted(virConnectPtr conn);
 int virConnectIsSecure(virConnectPtr conn);
+int virConnectIsAlive(virConnectPtr conn);
 
 /*
  * CPU specification API
diff --git a/src/driver.h b/src/driver.h
index 4797960939..9e78257e36 100644
--- a/src/driver.h
+++ b/src/driver.h
@@ -508,6 +508,8 @@ typedef int
     (*virDrvConnectIsEncrypted)(virConnectPtr conn);
 typedef int
     (*virDrvConnectIsSecure)(virConnectPtr conn);
+typedef int
+    (*virDrvConnectIsAlive)(virConnectPtr conn);
 typedef int
     (*virDrvDomainIsActive)(virDomainPtr dom);
 typedef int
@@ -904,6 +906,7 @@ struct _virDriver {
     virDrvDomainBlockJobSetSpeed domainBlockJobSetSpeed;
     virDrvDomainBlockPull domainBlockPull;
     virDrvSetKeepAlive setKeepAlive;
+    virDrvConnectIsAlive isAlive;
 };
 
 typedef int
diff --git a/src/libvirt.c b/src/libvirt.c
index ff14f235cf..b428fe63ae 100644
--- a/src/libvirt.c
+++ b/src/libvirt.c
@@ -17246,3 +17246,39 @@ error:
     virDispatchError(conn);
     return -1;
 }
+
+/**
+ * virConnectIsAlive:
+ * @conn: pointer to the connection object
+ *
+ * Determine if the connection to the hypervisor is still alive
+ *
+ * A connection will be classed as alive if it is either local, or running
+ * over a channel (TCP or UNIX socket) which is not closed.
+ *
+ * Returns 1 if alive, 0 if dead, -1 on error
+ */
+int virConnectIsAlive(virConnectPtr conn)
+{
+    VIR_DEBUG("conn=%p", conn);
+
+    virResetLastError();
+
+    if (!VIR_IS_CONNECT(conn)) {
+        virLibConnError(VIR_ERR_INVALID_CONN, __FUNCTION__);
+        virDispatchError(NULL);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    if (conn->driver->isAlive) {
+        int ret;
+        ret = conn->driver->isAlive(conn);
+        if (ret < 0)
+            goto error;
+        return ret;
+    }
+
+    virLibConnError(VIR_ERR_NO_SUPPORT, __FUNCTION__);
+error:
+    virDispatchError(conn);
+    return -1;
+}
diff --git a/src/libvirt_public.syms b/src/libvirt_public.syms
index 2331f76219..6ba1526b26 100644
--- a/src/libvirt_public.syms
+++ b/src/libvirt_public.syms
@@ -500,6 +500,7 @@ LIBVIRT_0.9.7 {
 
 LIBVIRT_0.9.8 {
     global:
+        virConnectIsAlive;
         virConnectSetKeepAlive;
 } LIBVIRT_0.9.7;