diff --git a/ccnode/node.py b/ccnode/node.py
index d46523ab360f72accb40689c76d9d426c2a0ad8d..491948797b191b7cfe5e8faaade40da8034a753d 100644
--- a/ccnode/node.py
+++ b/ccnode/node.py
@@ -193,6 +193,14 @@ class MainLoop(object):
         # plugins
         self.registered_plugins = set()
 
+    @property
+    def rpc_connected(self):
+        return self.rpc_con is not None
+
+    @property
+    def rpc_authenticated(self):
+        return self.rpc_connected and self.connect is None
+
     # RPC handlers definitions
     @threadless
     def sub_tags(self, sub_id, tags=None, noresolve_tags=None):