diff --git a/common/io_lock.c b/common/io_lock.c
index 5c35edba7..d32a510d0 100644
--- a/common/io_lock.c
+++ b/common/io_lock.c
@@ -80,3 +80,8 @@ void io_lock_release(struct io_lock *lock)
 	lock->locked = false;
 	io_wake(lock);
 }
+
+bool io_lock_taken(const struct io_lock *lock)
+{
+	return lock->locked;
+}
diff --git a/common/io_lock.h b/common/io_lock.h
index 47b84ccd3..a1130d854 100644
--- a/common/io_lock.h
+++ b/common/io_lock.h
@@ -47,4 +47,9 @@ struct io_plan *io_lock_acquire_in_(struct io_conn *conn, struct io_lock *lock,
  */
 void io_lock_release(struct io_lock *lock);
 
+/**
+ * Is this lock acquired?
+ */
+bool io_lock_taken(const struct io_lock *lock);
+
 #endif /* LIGHTNING_COMMON_IO_LOCK_H */