diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index dd394eb9..fa4bbb52 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ UV_EXTERN int uv_is_writable(uv_stream_t* handle);
  *      and the arrival of the close callback, and cannot be used
  *      to validate the handle.
  */
-UV_EXTERN int uv_is_closing(uv_handle_t* handle);
+UV_EXTERN int uv_is_closing(const uv_handle_t* handle);
 
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/unix/core.c b/src/unix/core.c
index 7bd91465..5ad639cc 100644
--- a/src/unix/core.c
+++ b/src/unix/core.c
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ void uv_close(uv_handle_t* handle, uv_close_cb close_cb) {
 }
 
 
-int uv_is_closing(uv_handle_t* handle) {
+int uv_is_closing(const uv_handle_t* handle) {
   return handle->flags & (UV_CLOSING | UV_CLOSED);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/win/handle.c b/src/win/handle.c
index 737b6375..797b0716 100644
--- a/src/win/handle.c
+++ b/src/win/handle.c
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ void uv_close(uv_handle_t* handle, uv_close_cb cb) {
 }
 
 
-int uv_is_closing(uv_handle_t* handle) {
+int uv_is_closing(const uv_handle_t* handle) {
   return handle->flags & (UV_HANDLE_CLOSING | UV_HANDLE_CLOSED);
 }