diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9e38352..6c9711f 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ list the function signatures as an overview:
     void     apply(callable $function, iterable $iterable)
     string   join(string $separator, iterable $iterable)
     int      count(iterable $iterable)
+    bool     isEmpty(iterable $iterable)
     mixed    recurse(callable $function, $iterable)
     array    toArray(iterable $iterable)
     array    toArrayWithKeys(iterable $iterable)
diff --git a/src/iter.php b/src/iter.php
index 1bb3364..c7d9db9 100644
--- a/src/iter.php
+++ b/src/iter.php
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 namespace iter;
 
 use Traversable;
+use Countable;
 
 /**
  * Creates an iterable containing all numbers between the start and end value
@@ -903,12 +904,12 @@ function join($separator, $iterable) {
  *      iter\count(iter\flatten([1, 2, 3, [4, [[[5, 6], 7]]], 8]))
  *      => 8
  *
- * @param array|Traversable|\Countable $iterable The iterable to count
+ * @param array|Traversable|Countable $iterable The iterable to count
  *
  * @return int
  */
 function count($iterable) {
-    if (is_array($iterable) || $iterable instanceof \Countable) {
+    if (\is_array($iterable) || $iterable instanceof Countable) {
         return \count($iterable);
     }
     if (!$iterable instanceof \Traversable) {
@@ -923,6 +924,31 @@ function count($iterable) {
     return $count;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Determines whether iterable is empty.
+ *
+ * If the iterable implements Countable, its count() method will be used.
+ * Calling isEmpty() does not drain iterators, as only the valid() method will
+ * be called.
+ *
+ * @param array|Traversable|Countable $iterable
+ * @return bool
+ */
+function isEmpty($iterable) {
+    if (\is_array($iterable) || $iterable instanceof \Countable) {
+        return count($iterable) == 0;
+    }
+
+    if ($iterable instanceof \Iterator) {
+        return !$iterable->valid();
+    } else if ($iterable instanceof \IteratorAggregate) {
+        return !$iterable->getIterator()->valid();
+    } else {
+        throw new \InvalidArgumentException(
+            'Argument must be iterable or implement Countable');
+    }
+}
+
 /**
  * Recursively applies a function, working on entire iterables rather than
  * individual values.
diff --git a/test/iterTest.php b/test/iterTest.php
index 244ae7d..ef0fe78 100644
--- a/test/iterTest.php
+++ b/test/iterTest.php
@@ -336,6 +336,15 @@ public function testCount() {
         $this->assertSame(42, count(new _CountableTestDummy));
     }
 
+    public function testIsEmpty() {
+        $this->assertTrue(isEmpty([]));
+        $this->assertFalse(isEmpty([null]));
+        $this->assertTrue(isEmpty(toArray([])));
+        $this->assertFalse(isEmpty(toArray([null])));
+        $this->assertTrue(isEmpty(repeat(42, 0)));
+        $this->assertFalse(isEmpty(repeat(42)));
+    }
+
     public function testToArray() {
         $this->assertSame([1, 2, 3], toArray(['a' => 1, 'b' => 2, 'c' => 3]));
         $this->assertSame(
@@ -503,6 +512,10 @@ function() { _assertAllIterable([[], new \stdClass()]); },
             function() { return count(new \stdClass()); },
             'Argument must be iterable or implement Countable'
         ];
+        yield [
+            function() { return isEmpty(new \stdClass()); },
+            'Argument must be iterable or implement Countable'
+        ];
         yield [
             function() { return toIter(new \stdClass()); },
             'Argument must be iterable'