diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as
index c1dd2d79e..29b1c4ebb 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Client.as
@@ -234,6 +234,15 @@ public class Client extends EventDispatcher
         return (_clobj != null);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Detects if the client is currently connected to the server. This can sometimes return false
+     * even though <code>isLoggedOn</code> returns true.
+     */
+    public function isConnected () :Boolean
+    {
+        return _comm != null && _comm.isConnected();
+    }
+
     /**
      * Requests that this client connect and logon to the server with which it was previously
      * configured.
diff --git a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
index 4e07cd52a..3c4280cd7 100644
--- a/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
+++ b/src/as/com/threerings/presents/client/Communicator.as
@@ -85,6 +85,16 @@ public class Communicator
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Detects if the communicator currently has an open channel to the server. This is guaranteed
+     * to return false while the logoff event is being dispatched. It also returns true during
+     * authentication, but prior to the client appearing to be logged on.
+     */
+    public function isConnected () :Boolean
+    {
+        return _writer != null;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Attempts to logon on using the port at the specified index.
      */