diff --git a/include/cppkafka/event.h b/include/cppkafka/event.h
index 235d70e..a48175c 100644
--- a/include/cppkafka/event.h
+++ b/include/cppkafka/event.h
@@ -143,6 +143,13 @@ public:
      * * RD_KAFKA_EVENT_OFFSET_COMMIT
      */
     TopicPartitionList get_topic_partition_list() const;
+
+    /**
+     * Check whether this event is valid
+     *
+     * /return true iff this event has a valid (non-null) handle inside
+     */
+    operator bool() const;
 private:
     using HandlePtr = std::unique_ptr<rd_kafka_event_t, decltype(&rd_kafka_event_destroy)>;
 
diff --git a/src/event.cpp b/src/event.cpp
index 4f2fc5d..1c82d3d 100644
--- a/src/event.cpp
+++ b/src/event.cpp
@@ -90,4 +90,8 @@ TopicPartitionList Event::get_topic_partition_list() const {
     return convert(toppars_handle);
 }
 
+Event::operator bool() const {
+    return !!handle_;
+}
+
 } // cppkafka