diff --git a/vfs/vfs.go b/vfs/vfs.go
index 1d6ac1631..bb1951484 100644
--- a/vfs/vfs.go
+++ b/vfs/vfs.go
@@ -457,6 +457,25 @@ func (vfs *VFS) FlushDirCache() {
 	vfs.root.ForgetAll()
 }
 
+// countInUse returns the number of files open for write and the
+// number of cached files which are open or waiting to be uploaded.
+func (vfs *VFS) countInUse() (writers, cacheInUse int) {
+	writers = vfs.root.countActiveWriters()
+	if vfs.cache != nil {
+		cacheInUse = vfs.cache.TotalInUse()
+	}
+	return writers, cacheInUse
+}
+
+// Busy returns true if the VFS has files open for write or cached
+// files which are open or waiting to be uploaded.
+//
+// It may block while a directory is being read from the remote.
+func (vfs *VFS) Busy() bool {
+	writers, cacheInUse := vfs.countInUse()
+	return writers != 0 || cacheInUse != 0
+}
+
 // WaitForWriters sleeps until all writers have finished or
 // time.Duration has elapsed
 func (vfs *VFS) WaitForWriters(timeout time.Duration) {
@@ -468,11 +487,7 @@ func (vfs *VFS) WaitForWriters(timeout time.Duration) {
 	defer tick.Stop()
 	tick.Stop()
 	for {
-		writers := vfs.root.countActiveWriters()
-		cacheInUse := 0
-		if vfs.cache != nil {
-			cacheInUse = vfs.cache.TotalInUse()
-		}
+		writers, cacheInUse := vfs.countInUse()
 		if writers == 0 && cacheInUse == 0 {
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/vfs/vfs_test.go b/vfs/vfs_test.go
index 710674a80..67a143423 100644
--- a/vfs/vfs_test.go
+++ b/vfs/vfs_test.go
@@ -190,6 +190,28 @@ func TestVFSNewShuttingDown(t *testing.T) {
 	vfs2.Shutdown()
 }
 
+// TestVFSBusy checks Busy reports files open for write and cached
+// files which haven't been uploaded yet.
+func TestVFSBusy(t *testing.T) {
+	opt := vfscommon.Opt
+	opt.CacheMode = vfscommon.CacheModeWrites
+	opt.WriteBack = 10 * writeBackDelay
+	_, vfs := newTestVFSOpt(t, &opt)
+	assert.False(t, vfs.Busy())
+
+	fh, err := vfs.Create("file.txt")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.True(t, vfs.Busy(), "not busy with a file open for write")
+
+	_, err = fh.WriteString("hello")
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	require.NoError(t, fh.Close())
+	assert.True(t, vfs.Busy(), "not busy with a file waiting to be uploaded")
+
+	vfs.WaitForWriters(waitForWritersDelay)
+	assert.False(t, vfs.Busy(), "busy after the file was uploaded")
+}
+
 // TestVFSNewWithOpts sees if the New command works properly
 func TestVFSNewWithOpts(t *testing.T) {
 	var opt = vfscommon.Opt