diff --git a/include/NetworkHandler.h b/include/NetworkHandler.h
index ab7d0cf..0e86c0d 100644
--- a/include/NetworkHandler.h
+++ b/include/NetworkHandler.h
@@ -11,5 +11,6 @@
 void network_connect(void);
 void network_disconnect(void);
 void network_init(void);
+bool network_is_connected(void);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/NetworkHandler.cpp b/src/NetworkHandler.cpp
index 96e68ac..5ce289e 100644
--- a/src/NetworkHandler.cpp
+++ b/src/NetworkHandler.cpp
@@ -3,9 +3,10 @@
 Copyright (c) 2023 Casey Reeves and the LuminaSensum contributors
 */
 
-#include "EthernetInterface.h"
+#include "NetworkHandler.h"
 #include "mbed-trace/mbed_trace.h"
 #include "mbed.h"
+#include <atomic>
 #define TRACE_GROUP "NET"
 
 // instantiate the network interface
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@
 
 // set up a status callback function to monitor for changes
 
-bool is_connected = false;
+std::atomic<bool> is_connected = false;
 void status_callback(nsapi_event_t status, intptr_t param) {
 	tr_debug("Detected a connection status change.");
 	switch (param) {
@@ -61,3 +62,7 @@
 	eth.attach(&status_callback);
 	tr_debug("Status callback now attached to monitor changes.");
 }
+
+// function to check weather the network is connected
+
+bool network_is_connected(void) { return is_connected; }