diff --git a/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md b/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md
index 4a1a9c7fa7..494e8046aa 100644
--- a/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md
+++ b/NEW_RELEASE_NOTES.md
@@ -7,3 +7,5 @@ for next branch cut* header.
 appropriate header in [RELEASE_NOTES.md](./RELEASE_NOTES.md).
 
 ## Release notes for next branch cut
+
+- engine: Add `isPaused()`
diff --git a/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Engine.cpp b/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Engine.cpp
index 713baa53ed..ef67358079 100644
--- a/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Engine.cpp
+++ b/android/filament-android/src/main/cpp/Engine.cpp
@@ -406,6 +406,13 @@ Java_com_google_android_filament_Engine_nFlush(JNIEnv*, jclass,
     engine->flush();
 }
 
+extern "C" JNIEXPORT jboolean JNICALL
+Java_com_google_android_filament_Engine_nIsPaused(JNIEnv*, jclass,
+        jlong nativeEngine) {
+    Engine* engine = (Engine*) nativeEngine;
+    return (jboolean)engine->isPaused();
+}
+
 extern "C" JNIEXPORT void JNICALL
 Java_com_google_android_filament_Engine_nSetPaused(JNIEnv*, jclass,
         jlong nativeEngine, jboolean paused) {
diff --git a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Engine.java b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Engine.java
index a7ec77a71c..9f8f478009 100644
--- a/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Engine.java
+++ b/android/filament-android/src/main/java/com/google/android/filament/Engine.java
@@ -1227,6 +1227,17 @@ public class Engine {
         nFlush(getNativeObject());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Get paused state of rendering thread.
+     *
+     * <p>Warning: This is an experimental API.
+     *
+     * @see #setPaused
+     */
+    public boolean isPaused() {
+        return nIsPaused(getNativeObject());
+    }
+
     /**
      * Pause or resume the rendering thread.
      *
@@ -1319,6 +1330,7 @@ public class Engine {
     private static native void nDestroyEntity(long nativeEngine, int entity);
     private static native void nFlushAndWait(long nativeEngine);
     private static native void nFlush(long nativeEngine);
+    private static native boolean nIsPaused(long nativeEngine);
     private static native void nSetPaused(long nativeEngine, boolean paused);
     private static native long nGetTransformManager(long nativeEngine);
     private static native long nGetLightManager(long nativeEngine);
diff --git a/filament/backend/include/private/backend/CommandBufferQueue.h b/filament/backend/include/private/backend/CommandBufferQueue.h
index 92bf7e1488..e8ff9aa896 100644
--- a/filament/backend/include/private/backend/CommandBufferQueue.h
+++ b/filament/backend/include/private/backend/CommandBufferQueue.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ public:
     void requestExit();
 
     // suspend or unsuspend the queue.
+    bool isPaused() const noexcept;
     void setPaused(bool paused);
 
     bool isExitRequested() const;
diff --git a/filament/backend/src/CommandBufferQueue.cpp b/filament/backend/src/CommandBufferQueue.cpp
index b721ce0c50..62af649980 100644
--- a/filament/backend/src/CommandBufferQueue.cpp
+++ b/filament/backend/src/CommandBufferQueue.cpp
@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ void CommandBufferQueue::requestExit() {
     mCondition.notify_one();
 }
 
+bool CommandBufferQueue::isPaused() const noexcept {
+    std::lock_guard<utils::Mutex> const lock(mLock);
+    return mPaused;
+}
+
 void CommandBufferQueue::setPaused(bool paused) {
     std::lock_guard<utils::Mutex> const lock(mLock);
     if (paused) {
diff --git a/filament/include/filament/Engine.h b/filament/include/filament/Engine.h
index 033cb8066f..e5b142c314 100644
--- a/filament/include/filament/Engine.h
+++ b/filament/include/filament/Engine.h
@@ -867,6 +867,15 @@ public:
       */
     void flush();
 
+    /**
+     * Get paused state of rendering thread.
+     *
+     * <p>Warning: This is an experimental API.
+     *
+     * @see setPaused
+     */
+    bool isPaused() const noexcept;
+
     /**
      * Pause or resume rendering thread.
      *
diff --git a/filament/src/Engine.cpp b/filament/src/Engine.cpp
index d0042f6332..ca370bc85c 100644
--- a/filament/src/Engine.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/Engine.cpp
@@ -308,6 +308,11 @@ utils::JobSystem& Engine::getJobSystem() noexcept {
     return downcast(this)->getJobSystem();
 }
 
+bool Engine::isPaused() const noexcept {
+    ASSERT_PRECONDITION(UTILS_HAS_THREADING, "Pause is meant for multi-threaded platforms.");
+    return downcast(this)->isPaused();
+}
+
 void Engine::setPaused(bool paused) {
     ASSERT_PRECONDITION(UTILS_HAS_THREADING, "Pause is meant for multi-threaded platforms.");
     downcast(this)->setPaused(paused);
diff --git a/filament/src/details/Engine.cpp b/filament/src/details/Engine.cpp
index 7a97aedd7e..d57df19550 100644
--- a/filament/src/details/Engine.cpp
+++ b/filament/src/details/Engine.cpp
@@ -581,6 +581,8 @@ void FEngine::flush() {
 }
 
 void FEngine::flushAndWait() {
+    ASSERT_PRECONDITION(!mCommandBufferQueue.isPaused(),
+            "Cannot call flushAndWait() when rendering thread is paused!");
 
 #if defined(__ANDROID__)
 
@@ -1218,6 +1220,10 @@ void FEngine::destroy(FEngine* engine) {
     }
 }
 
+bool FEngine::isPaused() const noexcept {
+    return mCommandBufferQueue.isPaused();
+}
+
 void FEngine::setPaused(bool paused) {
     mCommandBufferQueue.setPaused(paused);
 }
diff --git a/filament/src/details/Engine.h b/filament/src/details/Engine.h
index c31549e9da..88434071a5 100644
--- a/filament/src/details/Engine.h
+++ b/filament/src/details/Engine.h
@@ -344,6 +344,7 @@ public:
 
     void destroy(utils::Entity e);
 
+    bool isPaused() const noexcept;
     void setPaused(bool paused);
 
     void flushAndWait();