diff --git a/lib/Cake/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRule.php b/lib/Cake/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRule.php
index 1963de4b4fb..ab95b5693f1 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRule.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRule.php
@@ -130,6 +130,15 @@ public function isValid() {
 		return true;
 	}
 
+/**
+ * Returns whether the field can be left blank according to this rule
+ *
+ * @return boolean
+ */
+	public function isEmptyAllowed() {
+		return $this->skip() || $this->allowEmpty === true;
+	}
+
 /**
  * Checks if the field is required according to the `required` property
  *
diff --git a/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRuleTest.php b/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRuleTest.php
index c72f4969fc8..85d2350e52d 100644
--- a/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRuleTest.php
+++ b/lib/Cake/Test/Case/Model/Validator/CakeValidationRuleTest.php
@@ -132,4 +132,33 @@ public function testIsRequired() {
 		$Rule->isUpdate(true);
 		$this->assertTrue($Rule->isRequired());
 	}
+
+/**
+ * Test isEmptyAllowed method
+ *
+ * @return void
+ */
+	public function testIsEmplyAllowed() {
+		$def = array('rule' => 'aRule', 'allowEmpty' => true);
+		$Rule = new CakeValidationRule($def);
+		$this->assertTrue($Rule->isEmptyAllowed());
+
+		$def = array('rule' => 'aRule', 'allowEmpty' => false);
+		$Rule = new CakeValidationRule($def);
+		$this->assertFalse($Rule->isEmptyAllowed());
+
+		$def = array('rule' => 'notEmpty', 'allowEmpty' => false, 'on' => 'update');
+		$Rule = new CakeValidationRule($def);
+		$this->assertTrue($Rule->isEmptyAllowed());
+
+		$Rule->isUpdate(true);
+		$this->assertFalse($Rule->isEmptyAllowed());
+
+		$def = array('rule' => 'notEmpty', 'allowEmpty' => false, 'on' => 'create');
+		$Rule = new CakeValidationRule($def);
+		$this->assertFalse($Rule->isEmptyAllowed());
+
+		$Rule->isUpdate(true);
+		$this->assertTrue($Rule->isEmptyAllowed());
+	}
 }