diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9a45ceb..ad8f535 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -62,8 +62,8 @@ Or, in the classic config format (`rabbitmq.config`, prior to 3.7.0) or `advance
     ].
 
 Authentication requests will be packed into the headers of incoming
-messages. There are three types of request: `login`, `check_vhost` and
-`check_resource`. Responses should be returned in the message
+messages. There are four types of request: `login`, `check_vhost`,
+`check_resource` and `check_topic`. Responses should be returned in the message
 body. Responses to `login` requests should be "refused" if login is
 unsuccessful or a comma-separated list of tags for the user if login
 is successful. Responses to the other types should be the words
diff --git a/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthBackend.java b/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthBackend.java
index e6a4929..8345d99 100644
--- a/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthBackend.java
+++ b/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthBackend.java
@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ boolean checkVhost(String username,
                        String vhost);
 
     boolean checkResource(String username,
+                          String vhost,
+                          String resourceName,
+                          ResourceType resourceType,
+                          ResourcePermission permission);
+
+    boolean checkTopic(String username,
                           String vhost,
                           String resourceName,
                           ResourceType resourceType,
diff --git a/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthServer.java b/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthServer.java
index 65f1fe0..acfc0be 100644
--- a/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthServer.java
+++ b/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/AuthServer.java
@@ -45,8 +45,16 @@ else if (action.equals("check_resource")) {
                     get("vhost", headers),
                     get("name", headers),
                     ResourceType.valueOf(getU("resource", headers)),
-                    ResourcePermission.valueOf(getU("permission", headers)),
-                    get("routing_key", headers)));
+                    ResourcePermission.valueOf(getU("permission", headers))));
+        }
+        else if (action.equals("check_topic")) {
+            return bool(authBackend.checkTopic(
+                get("username", headers),
+                get("vhost", headers),
+                get("name", headers),
+                ResourceType.valueOf(getU("resource", headers)),
+                ResourcePermission.valueOf(getU("permission", headers)),
+                get("routing_key", headers)));
         }
 
         throw new RuntimeException("Unexpected action " + action);
diff --git a/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/examples/ExampleAuthBackend.java b/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/examples/ExampleAuthBackend.java
index 3997399..d8f9551 100644
--- a/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/examples/ExampleAuthBackend.java
+++ b/examples/rabbitmq-auth-backend-java/src/com/rabbitmq/authbackend/examples/ExampleAuthBackend.java
@@ -38,12 +38,16 @@ public boolean checkResource(String username,
                                  String vhost,
                                  String resourceName,
                                  ResourceType resourceType,
-                                 ResourcePermission permission,
-                                 String routingKey) {
-        if(resourceType == ResourceType.TOPIC) {
-            return routingKey.startsWith("a");
-        } else {
-            return true;
-        }
+                                 ResourcePermission permission) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    public boolean checkTopic(String username,
+                              String vhost,
+                              String resourceName,
+                              ResourceType resourceType,
+                              ResourcePermission permission,
+                              String routingKey) {
+        return routingKey.startsWith("a");
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/rabbit_auth_backend_amqp.erl b/src/rabbit_auth_backend_amqp.erl
index f9d4999..410eb2e 100644
--- a/src/rabbit_auth_backend_amqp.erl
+++ b/src/rabbit_auth_backend_amqp.erl
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
 -export([description/0]).
 
 -export([user_login_authentication/2, user_login_authorization/1,
-         check_vhost_access/3, check_resource_access/3]).
+         check_vhost_access/3, check_resource_access/3, check_topic_access/4]).
 
 -behaviour(gen_server).
 
@@ -64,26 +64,37 @@ check_vhost_access(#auth_user{username = Username}, VHost, _Sock) ->
                     infinity).
 
 check_resource_access(#auth_user{username = Username},
-                      #resource{virtual_host = VHost, kind = Type, name = Name, options = Options},
+                      #resource{virtual_host = VHost, kind = Type, name = Name},
                       Permission) ->
-    OptionsHeaders = resource_options_as_headers(Options),
     gen_server:call(?SERVER, {check_resource, [{username,   Username},
                                                {vhost,      VHost},
                                                {resource,   Type},
                                                {name,       Name},
-                                               {permission, Permission}] ++ OptionsHeaders},
+                                               {permission, Permission}]},
+                    infinity).
+
+check_topic_access(#auth_user{username = Username},
+                   #resource{virtual_host = VHost, kind = topic = Type, name = Name},
+                   Permission,
+                   Context) ->
+    OptionsHeaders = context_as_headers(Context),
+    gen_server:call(?SERVER, {check_topic, [{username,   Username},
+                                            {vhost,      VHost},
+                                            {resource,   Type},
+                                            {name,       Name},
+                                            {permission, Permission}] ++ OptionsHeaders},
                     infinity).
 
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-resource_options_as_headers(Options) when is_map(Options) ->
+context_as_headers(Options) when is_map(Options) ->
     % filter options that would erase fixed parameters
     [{rabbit_data_coercion:to_atom(Key), maps:get(Key, Options)}
         || Key <- maps:keys(Options),
         lists:member(
             rabbit_data_coercion:to_atom(Key),
             ?CHECK_RESOURCE_ACCESS_HEADERS) =:= false];
-resource_options_as_headers(_) ->
+context_as_headers(_) ->
     [].
 
 init([]) ->
@@ -134,6 +145,9 @@ handle_call({check_vhost, Args}, _From, State) ->
 handle_call({check_resource, Args}, _From, State) ->
     {reply, bool_rpc([{action, check_resource} | Args], State), State};
 
+handle_call({check_topic, Args}, _From, State) ->
+    {reply, bool_rpc([{action, check_topic} | Args], State), State};
+
 handle_call(_Req, _From, State) ->
     {reply, unknown_request, State}.