diff --git ext/coverage/coverage.c ext/coverage/coverage.c
index 9a9011a7da..471e50c9ac 100644
--- ext/coverage/coverage.c
+++ ext/coverage/coverage.c
@@ -75,6 +75,19 @@ rb_coverage_result(VALUE klass)
     return ncoverages;
 }
 
+/*
+ *  call-seq:
+ *     Coverage.enabled?  => true or false
+ *
+ * Returns the current status of the Coverage.
+ */
+static VALUE
+rb_coverage_enabled_p(VALUE klass)
+{
+    VALUE coverages = rb_get_coverages();
+    return RTEST(coverages) ? Qtrue : Qfalse;
+}
+
 /* Coverage provides coverage measurement feature for Ruby.
  * This feature is experimental, so these APIs may be changed in future.
  *
@@ -115,4 +128,5 @@ Init_coverage(void)
     rb_define_module_function(rb_mCoverage, "start", rb_coverage_start, 0);
     rb_define_module_function(rb_mCoverage, "result", rb_coverage_result, 0);
     rb_define_module_function(rb_mCoverage, "peek_result", rb_coverage_peek_result, 0);
+    rb_define_module_function(rb_mCoverage, "enabled?", rb_coverage_enabled_p, 0);
 }
diff --git test/coverage/test_coverage.rb test/coverage/test_coverage.rb
index b0392135fd..aec226b281 100644
--- test/coverage/test_coverage.rb
+++ test/coverage/test_coverage.rb
@@ -154,4 +154,15 @@ def test_eval
   ensure
     $".replace loaded_features
   end
+
+  def test_enabled
+    assert_equal false, Coverage.enabled?
+
+    Coverage.start
+    assert_equal true, Coverage.enabled?
+
+    Coverage.result
+    assert_equal false, Coverage.enabled?
+  end
+
 end unless ENV['COVERAGE']