diff --git a/singleton.hpp b/singleton.hpp
index a8b0361d..099651b2 100644
--- a/singleton.hpp
+++ b/singleton.hpp
@@ -27,6 +27,13 @@ namespace cruft {
         static SelfT *instance;
 
     public:
+        static bool
+        valid (void) noexcept
+        {
+            return instance;
+        }
+
+
         /// instantiates the one blessed value of this type.
         ///
         /// `instantiate` must be called once and once only before any calls