diff --git a/discord/client.py b/discord/client.py
index 1ddb09d6b..a5bb9c002 100644
--- a/discord/client.py
+++ b/discord/client.py
@@ -282,6 +282,18 @@ class Client:
         ws = self.ws
         return float('nan') if not ws else ws.latency
 
+    def is_ws_ratelimited(self):
+        """:class:`bool`: Whether the websocket is currently rate limited.
+
+        This can be useful to know when deciding whether you should query members
+        using HTTP or via the gateway.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 1.6
+        """
+        if self.ws:
+            return self.ws.is_ratelimited()
+        return False
+
     @property
     def user(self):
         """Optional[:class:`.ClientUser`]: Represents the connected client. ``None`` if not logged in."""
diff --git a/discord/shard.py b/discord/shard.py
index 6985d7970..ebc27b0da 100644
--- a/discord/shard.py
+++ b/discord/shard.py
@@ -258,6 +258,16 @@ class ShardInfo:
         """:class:`float`: Measures latency between a HEARTBEAT and a HEARTBEAT_ACK in seconds for this shard."""
         return self._parent.ws.latency
 
+    def is_ws_ratelimited(self):
+        """:class:`bool`: Whether the websocket is currently rate limited.
+
+        This can be useful to know when deciding whether you should query members
+        using HTTP or via the gateway.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 1.6
+        """
+        return self._parent.ws.is_ratelimited()
+
 class AutoShardedClient(Client):
     """A client similar to :class:`Client` except it handles the complications
     of sharding for the user into a more manageable and transparent single
@@ -519,3 +529,16 @@ class AutoShardedClient(Client):
 
             me.activities = activities
             me.status = status_enum
+
+    def is_ws_ratelimited(self):
+        """:class:`bool`: Whether the websocket is currently rate limited.
+
+        This can be useful to know when deciding whether you should query members
+        using HTTP or via the gateway.
+
+        This implementation checks if any of the shards are rate limited.
+        For more granular control, consider :meth:`ShardInfo.is_ws_ratelimited`.
+
+        .. versionadded:: 1.6
+        """
+        return any(shard.ws.is_ratelimited() for shard in self.__shards.values())