diff --git a/plantsim/plantsim.py b/plantsim/plantsim.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 4735592..cb488fc
--- a/plantsim/plantsim.py
+++ b/plantsim/plantsim.py
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@ def start_simulation(self):
 
         self.plantsim.StartSimulation(self.event_controller)
 
+    def is_simulation_running(self):
+
+        return self.plantsim.IsSimulationRunning()
+
     def get_object(self, object_name):
         # "Smart" getter that has some limited ability to decide which kind of object to return