diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index fb1e659c..325a9277 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -170,6 +170,13 @@ The `logs` function is a wrapper around this one, which you can use
 instead if you want to fetch/stream container output without first
 retrieving the entire backlog.
 
+```python
+c.ping()
+```
+
+Hits the /_ping endpoint of the remote API and returns the result.
+An exception will be raised if the endpoint isn't responding.
+
 ```python
 c.port(container, private_port)
 ```
diff --git a/docker/client.py b/docker/client.py
index ad46e3c0..f76f0917 100644
--- a/docker/client.py
+++ b/docker/client.py
@@ -616,6 +616,9 @@ class Client(requests.Session):
             logs=True
         )
 
+    def ping(self):
+        return self._result(self._get(self._url('/_ping')))
+
     def port(self, container, private_port):
         if isinstance(container, dict):
             container = container.get('Id')