diff --git a/base/stream.jl b/base/stream.jl
index 3de61181e978d..b0ef10e21fc7a 100644
--- a/base/stream.jl
+++ b/base/stream.jl
@@ -383,8 +383,23 @@ function isopen(x::Union{LibuvStream, LibuvServer})
     return x.status != StatusClosed
 end
 
+function isclosing(x::Union{LibuvStream, LibuvServer})
+    return x.status == StatusClosing
+end
+
+"""
+    isclosed(x)
+
+Determine whether a stream has been closed. Return true if the steram has been
+closed. In general, `isclosed(x) == !isopen(x)`.
+"""
+function isclosed(x::Union{LibuvStream, LibuvServer})
+    return x.status == StatusClosed
+end
+isclosed(x) = !isopen(x)
+
 function check_open(x::Union{LibuvStream, LibuvServer})
-    if !isopen(x) || x.status == StatusClosing
+    if !isopen(x) || isclosing(x)
         throw(IOError("stream is closed or unusable", 0))
     end
 end