diff --git a/src/bb_ep.inl b/src/bb_ep.inl
index 6385650..9dd6fb0 100644
--- a/src/bb_ep.inl
+++ b/src/bb_ep.inl
@@ -1617,6 +1617,18 @@ void bbepWaitBusy(BBEPDISP *pBBEP)
     }
 } /* bbepWaitBusy() */
 //
+// Return if panel is busy
+//
+bool bbepIsBusy(BBEPDISP *pBBEP)
+{
+    if (!pBBEP) return false;
+    if (pBBEP->iBUSYPin == 0xff) return false;
+    delay(10); // give time for the busy status to be valid
+    uint8_t busy_idle =  (pBBEP->chip_type == BBEP_CHIP_UC81xx) ? HIGH : LOW;
+    delay(1); // some panels need a short delay before testing the BUSY line
+    return (digitalRead(pBBEP->iBUSYPin) != busy_idle);
+} /* bbepWaitBusy() */
+//
 // Toggle the reset line to wake up the eink from deep sleep
 //
 void bbepWakeUp(BBEPDISP *pBBEP)
diff --git a/src/bb_epaper.cpp b/src/bb_epaper.cpp
index 43c26a6..24aed51 100644
--- a/src/bb_epaper.cpp
+++ b/src/bb_epaper.cpp
@@ -517,6 +517,10 @@ void BBEPAPER::wait(bool bQuick)
 {
     bbepWaitBusy(&_bbep);
 }
+bool BBEPAPER::isBusy(void)
+{
+    return bbepIsBusy(&_bbep);
+}
 void BBEPAPER::drawString(const char *pText, int x, int y)
 {
     if (_bbep.pFont) {
diff --git a/src/bb_epaper.h b/src/bb_epaper.h
index 626067b..bcb83ed 100644
--- a/src/bb_epaper.h
+++ b/src/bb_epaper.h
@@ -474,6 +474,7 @@ class BBEPAPER
     void stretchAndSmooth(uint8_t *pSrc, uint8_t *pDest, int w, int h, int iSmoothType);
     void sleep(int bDeep);
     void wait(bool bQuick = false);
+    bool isBusy(void);
     void drawString(const char *pText, int x, int y);
     void setPlane(int iPlane);
     int getPlane(void);