diff --git a/include/uv-private/ev.h b/include/uv-private/ev.h
index 5d2d7a1e3..11e81cda5 100644
--- a/include/uv-private/ev.h
+++ b/include/uv-private/ev.h
@@ -562,6 +562,8 @@ EV_MAYBE_UNUSED ev_is_default_loop (EV_P)
 /* create and destroy alternative loops that don't handle signals */
 struct ev_loop *ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags EV_CPP (= 0));
 
+int ev_loop_refcount (EV_P);
+
 ev_tstamp ev_now (EV_P); /* time w.r.t. timers and the eventloop, updated after each poll */
 
 #else
diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index a20070875..5928b4c16 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -200,6 +200,9 @@ typedef struct uv_work_s uv_work_t;
 UV_EXTERN uv_loop_t* uv_loop_new(void);
 UV_EXTERN void uv_loop_delete(uv_loop_t*);
 
+/* This is a debugging tool. It's NOT part of the official API. */
+UV_EXTERN int uv_loop_refcount(const uv_loop_t*);
+
 
 /*
  * Returns the default loop.
diff --git a/src/unix/core.c b/src/unix/core.c
index 486e83514..40fb3d95e 100644
--- a/src/unix/core.c
+++ b/src/unix/core.c
@@ -175,6 +175,11 @@ void uv_loop_delete(uv_loop_t* loop) {
 }
 
 
+int uv_loop_refcount(const uv_loop_t* loop) {
+  return ev_loop_refcount(loop->ev);
+}
+
+
 uv_loop_t* uv_default_loop(void) {
   if (!default_loop_ptr) {
     default_loop_ptr = &default_loop_struct;
diff --git a/src/unix/ev/ev.c b/src/unix/ev/ev.c
index a3bec43fb..b6e190f75 100644
--- a/src/unix/ev/ev.c
+++ b/src/unix/ev/ev.c
@@ -1958,6 +1958,12 @@ ev_loop_new (unsigned int flags)
 
 #endif /* multiplicity */
 
+int
+ev_loop_refcount (EV_P)
+{
+  return activecnt;
+}
+
 #if EV_VERIFY
 static void noinline
 verify_watcher (EV_P_ W w)
diff --git a/src/win/core.c b/src/win/core.c
index 72fee1c80..b55c3cea4 100644
--- a/src/win/core.c
+++ b/src/win/core.c
@@ -116,6 +116,11 @@ void uv_loop_delete(uv_loop_t* loop) {
 }
 
 
+int uv_loop_refcount(const uv_loop_t* loop) {
+  return loop->refs;
+}
+
+
 void uv_ref(uv_loop_t* loop) {
   loop->refs++;
 }