diff --git a/openbr/openbr.cpp b/openbr/openbr.cpp
index 54b0404..067334b 100644
--- a/openbr/openbr.cpp
+++ b/openbr/openbr.cpp
@@ -341,6 +341,12 @@ int br_img_channels(br_template tmpl)
     return t->m().channels();
 }
 
+bool br_img_is_empty(br_template tmpl)
+{
+    Template *t = reinterpret_cast<Template*>(tmpl);
+    return t->m().empty();
+}
+
 void br_set_filename(br_template tmpl, const char *filename)
 {
     Template *t = reinterpret_cast<Template*>(tmpl);
diff --git a/openbr/openbr.h b/openbr/openbr.h
index 46bcb87..64d5be4 100644
--- a/openbr/openbr.h
+++ b/openbr/openbr.h
@@ -467,6 +467,10 @@ BR_EXPORT int br_img_cols(br_template tmpl);
   */
 BR_EXPORT int br_img_channels(br_template tmpl);
 /*!
+  * \brief Returns if the image is empty.
+  */
+BR_EXPORT bool br_img_is_empty(br_template tmpl);
+/*!
   * \brief Set the filename for a template.
   */
 BR_EXPORT void br_set_filename(br_template tmpl, const char *filename);