diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 43ba20c8..341adeb1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -183,6 +183,10 @@ Get a value at the root of the repo.
 
 [Blocks](https://github.com/ipfs/js-ipfs-block#readme):
 
+#### `Promise<Boolean> repo.isInitialized ()`
+
+The returned promise resolves to `false` if the repo has not been initialized and `true` if it has.
+
 #### `Promise repo.blocks.put (block:Block)`
 
 * `block` should be of type [Block](https://github.com/ipfs/js-ipfs-block#readme).
diff --git a/src/index.js b/src/index.js
index cab370c8..cfe4119d 100644
--- a/src/index.js
+++ b/src/index.js
@@ -69,6 +69,30 @@ class IpfsRepo {
     await this.version.set(constants.repoVersion)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Check if the repo is already initialized.
+   * @returns {Promise<Boolean>}
+   */
+  async isInitialized () {
+    if (!this.closed) {
+      // repo is open, must be initialized
+      return true
+    }
+
+    try {
+      // have to open the root datastore in the browser before
+      // we can check whether it's been initialized
+      await this._openRoot()
+      await this._checkInitialized()
+      await this.root.close()
+
+      return true
+    } catch (err) {
+      // FIXME: do not use exceptions for flow control
+      return false
+    }
+  }
+
   /**
    * Open the repo. If the repo is already open an error will be thrown.
    * If the repo is not initialized it will throw an error.
diff --git a/test/browser.js b/test/browser.js
index 32a5e23b..f955a7f5 100644
--- a/test/browser.js
+++ b/test/browser.js
@@ -38,4 +38,5 @@ describe('IPFS Repo Tests on the Browser', () => {
   require('./config-test')(repo)
   require('./api-addr-test')(repo)
   require('./lock-test')(repo)
+  require('./is-initialized')
 })
diff --git a/test/is-initialized.js b/test/is-initialized.js
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..62843276
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/is-initialized.js
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/* eslint max-nested-callbacks: ["error", 8] */
+/* eslint-env mocha */
+'use strict'
+
+const chai = require('chai')
+chai.use(require('dirty-chai'))
+const expect = chai.expect
+const os = require('os')
+const path = require('path')
+const IPFSRepo = require('../src')
+
+describe('isInitialized', () => {
+  let repo
+
+  beforeEach(() => {
+    const repoPath = path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'test-repo-for-' + Math.random())
+    repo = new IPFSRepo(repoPath)
+  })
+
+  it('should be false before initialization', async () => {
+    expect(await repo.isInitialized()).to.be.false()
+  })
+
+  it('should be true after initialization', async () => {
+    await repo.init({})
+    expect(await repo.isInitialized()).to.be.true()
+  })
+
+  it('should be true after initialization and opening', async () => {
+    await repo.init({})
+    await repo.open()
+    expect(await repo.isInitialized()).to.be.true()
+  })
+
+  it('should be true after initialization, opening and closing', async () => {
+    await repo.init({})
+    await repo.open()
+    await repo.close()
+    expect(await repo.isInitialized()).to.be.true()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/test/node.js b/test/node.js
index 970b2724..f443e276 100644
--- a/test/node.js
+++ b/test/node.js
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ describe('IPFS Repo Tests onNode.js', () => {
     if (!r.init) {
       require('./interop-test')(repo)
     }
+    require('./is-initialized')
   }))
 
   require('./blockstore-utils-test')()