diff --git a/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.c b/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.c
index b4442f75..d80271a2 100644
--- a/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.c
+++ b/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.c
@@ -558,3 +558,10 @@ uartDetectBaudrate(uart_t *uart)
 
     return default_rates[i];
 }
+
+/*
+ * Returns the status of the RX state machine, if the value is non-zero the state machine is active.
+ */
+bool uartRxActive(uart_t* uart) {
+    return uart->dev->status.st_urx_out != 0;
+}
diff --git a/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.h b/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.h
index 3a317324..9874866b 100644
--- a/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.h
+++ b/cores/esp32/esp32-hal-uart.h
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ int uartGetDebug();
 
 unsigned long uartDetectBaudrate(uart_t *uart);
 
+bool uartRxActive(uart_t* uart);
+
 #ifdef __cplusplus
 }
 #endif