diff --git a/src/stanza.c b/src/stanza.c
index a93d7de..375bc0f 100644
--- a/src/stanza.c
+++ b/src/stanza.c
@@ -187,6 +187,32 @@ int xmpp_stanza_release(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza)
     return released;
 }
 
+/** Determine if a stanza is a text node.
+ *  
+ *  @param stanza a Strophe stanza object
+ *
+ *  @return TRUE if the stanza is a text node, FALSE otherwise
+ * 
+ *  @ingroup Stanza
+ */
+int xmpp_stanza_is_text(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza)
+{
+    return (stanza && stanza->type == XMPP_STANZA_TEXT);
+}
+
+/** Determine if a stanza is a tag node.
+ *  
+ *  @param stanza a Strophe stanza object
+ *
+ *  @return TRUE if the stanza is a tag node, FALSE otherwise
+ * 
+ *  @ingroup Stanza
+ */
+int xmpp_stanza_is_tag(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza)
+{
+    return (stanza && stanza->type == XMPP_STANZA_TAG);
+}
+
 /* small helper function */
 static inline void _render_update(int *written, const int length,
 			   const int lastwrite,
diff --git a/strophe.h b/strophe.h
index abc1039..cc210c1 100644
--- a/strophe.h
+++ b/strophe.h
@@ -285,6 +285,9 @@ xmpp_stanza_t * xmpp_stanza_copy(const xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
 /** free a stanza object and it's contents */
 int xmpp_stanza_release(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
 
+int xmpp_stanza_is_text(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
+int xmpp_stanza_is_tag(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
+
 /** marshall a stanza into text for transmission or display **/
 int xmpp_stanza_to_text(xmpp_stanza_t *stanza, 
 			char ** const buf, size_t * const buflen);
@@ -300,6 +303,7 @@ char *xmpp_stanza_get_attribute(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza,
 char * xmpp_stanza_get_ns(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
 /* concatenate all child text nodes.  this function
  * returns a string that must be freed by the caller */
+
 char *xmpp_stanza_get_text(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
 char *xmpp_stanza_get_text_ptr(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);
 char *xmpp_stanza_get_name(xmpp_stanza_t * const stanza);