diff --git a/lib/util.js b/lib/util.js
index e679b150..821f3cf8 100644
--- a/lib/util.js
+++ b/lib/util.js
@@ -79,10 +79,15 @@ function dispatchError (levelup, error, callback) {
     : levelup.emit('error', error)
 }
 
+function isDefined (v) {
+  return typeof v !== 'undefined'
+}
+
 module.exports = {
     defaultOptions  : defaultOptions
   , copy            : copy
   , getOptions      : getOptions
   , getLevelDOWN    : getLevelDOWN
   , dispatchError   : dispatchError
+  , isDefined       : isDefined
 }