diff --git a/src/unix/core.c b/src/unix/core.c
index b7f0da38..61d72493 100644
--- a/src/unix/core.c
+++ b/src/unix/core.c
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ static void uv__run_closing_handles(uv_loop_t* loop) {
 
 
 int uv_is_closing(const uv_handle_t* handle) {
-  return handle->flags & (UV_CLOSING | UV_CLOSED);
+  return uv__is_closing(handle);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/uv-common.h b/src/uv-common.h
index 80c9c719..bbf24859 100644
--- a/src/uv-common.h
+++ b/src/uv-common.h
@@ -149,6 +149,9 @@ void uv__fs_poll_close(uv_fs_poll_t* handle);
 #define uv__is_active(h)                                                      \
   (((h)->flags & UV__HANDLE_ACTIVE) != 0)
 
+#define uv__is_closing(h)                                                     \
+  (((h)->flags & (UV_CLOSING |  UV_CLOSED)) != 0)
+
 #define uv__handle_start(h)                                                   \
   do {                                                                        \
     assert(((h)->flags & UV__HANDLE_CLOSING) == 0);                           \