diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 713ad24..b4efe7b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -218,6 +218,7 @@ client.del('/foo/bar', function(err, req, res) {
 });
 ```
 
+
 ### StringClient
 
 `StringClient` is what `JsonClient` is built on, and provides a base
@@ -470,6 +471,26 @@ client.get(options, function(err, res, socket, head) {
 });
 ```
 
+### Common APIs
+
+The following methods are shared by all versions of the client:
+
+#### inflightRequests()
+
+Returns the number of inflight requests the client is currently handling. The
+request count is incremented as soon as a verb method is called, which means
+that an inflight request is defined as a request that is in any of the
+following states:
+
+* after the verb function is called but before any I/O
+* waiting on I/O (dns resolution, socket connection, server response, etc.)
+* request serialization (uploading of req bodies, etc.)
+* response marshalling/consumption
+
+The counter is decremented when the response's `end` event is emitted, or when
+the request's `error` event is emitted.
+
+
 ### Events
 
 The client emits the following events:
diff --git a/lib/HttpClient.js b/lib/HttpClient.js
index aaee127..c590825 100644
--- a/lib/HttpClient.js
+++ b/lib/HttpClient.js
@@ -119,6 +119,9 @@ function rawRequest(opts, cb) {
     // explicit.
     var cbCalled = false;
 
+    // increment the number of currently inflight requests
+    opts.client._incrementInflightRequests();
+
     /**
      * this function is called after the request lifecycle has been "completed"
      * and the after event is ready to be fired. this requires the consumer to
@@ -268,8 +271,8 @@ function rawRequest(opts, cb) {
             req.getMetrics = function getMetrics() {
                 return metrics;
             };
+            opts.client._decrementInflightRequests();
             opts.client.emit('metrics', metrics);
-
             emitAfter(req, res, err);
         });
 
@@ -310,6 +313,7 @@ function rawRequest(opts, cb) {
         log.trace({ err: realErr }, 'Request failed');
         clearTimeout(connectionTimer);
         clearTimeout(requestTimer);
+        opts.client._decrementInflightRequests();
 
         // the user provided callback is invoked as soon as a connection is
         // established. however, the request can be aborted or can fail after
@@ -512,6 +516,10 @@ function HttpClient(options) {
 
     var self = this;
 
+    // internal only properties
+    this._inflightRequests = 0;
+
+    // options properties
     this.agent = options.agent;
     this.appendPath = options.appendPath || false;
     this.ca = options.ca;
@@ -947,3 +955,44 @@ HttpClient.prototype._options = function (method, options) {
 
     return (opts);
 };
+
+
+/**
+ * return number of currently inflight requests
+ * @public
+ * @method inflightRequests
+ * @returns {Number}
+*/
+HttpClient.prototype.inflightRequests = function inflightRequests() {
+    var self = this;
+    return self._inflightRequests;
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * increment the number of currently inflight requests
+ * @private
+ * @method inflightRequests
+ * @returns {Number}
+*/
+HttpClient.prototype._incrementInflightRequests =
+function _incrementInflightRequests() {
+    var self = this;
+    self._inflightRequests++;
+};
+
+
+/**
+ * decrement the number of currently inflight requests. also make sure we never
+ * drop below 0, which would mean there's a bug in the way we're counting.
+ * @public
+ * @method inflightRequests
+ * @returns {Number}
+*/
+HttpClient.prototype._decrementInflightRequests =
+function _decrementInflightRequests() {
+    var self = this;
+    self._inflightRequests--;
+    assert.ok(self._inflightRequests >= 0,
+        'number of inflight requests cannot be < 0');
+};
diff --git a/test/inflightRequests.js b/test/inflightRequests.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1fdd8cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/inflightRequests.js
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+'use strict';
+
+// external files
+var _ = require('lodash');
+var assert = require('chai').assert;
+var bunyan = require('bunyan');
+var restify = require('restify');
+
+// local files
+var clients = require('../lib');
+
+
+describe('inflightRequests', function () {
+
+    var SERVER;
+    var HTTPCLIENT = clients.createHttpClient({
+        url: 'http://localhost:3000/',
+        requestTimeout: 100
+    });
+    var JSONCLIENT = clients.createJsonClient({
+        url: 'http://localhost:3000/',
+        requestTimeout: 100
+    });
+    var STRINGCLIENT = clients.createStringClient({
+        url: 'http://localhost:3000/',
+        requestTimeout: 100
+    });
+    var LOG = bunyan.createLogger({
+        name: 'clientlog'
+    });
+
+    beforeEach(function (done) {
+        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+
+        SERVER = restify.createServer({
+            name: 'unittest',
+            log: LOG
+        });
+        SERVER.get('/200', function (req, res, next) {
+            res.send(200, { hello: 'world' });
+            return next();
+        });
+        SERVER.get('/500', function (req, res, next) {
+            res.send(500, { empty: 'world' });
+            return next();
+        });
+        SERVER.get('/timeout', function (req, res, next) {
+            setTimeout(function () {
+                return next();
+            }, 1000);
+        });
+        SERVER.use(restify.plugins.queryParser());
+        SERVER.listen(3000, done);
+    });
+
+    afterEach(function (done) {
+        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+
+        HTTPCLIENT.close();
+        STRINGCLIENT.close();
+        JSONCLIENT.close();
+        SERVER.close(done);
+    });
+
+    it('JsonClient should increment and decrement inflight requests',
+    function (done) {
+        // request count decremented right before callback is fired.
+        JSONCLIENT.get('/200', function (err, req, res, data) {
+            assert.ifError(err);
+            assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+
+        // after firing one request
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('JsonClient should increment and decrement inflight on connection ' +
+    'timeout',
+    function (done) {
+        // setup client to point to unresolvable IP
+        var client = clients.createJsonClient({
+            url: 'http://10.255.255.1/',
+            connectTimeout: 100,
+            retry: {
+                minTimeout: 100,
+                maxTimeout: 500,
+                // ensure even with retries we do correct counting
+                retries: 3
+            }
+        });
+        client.get('/foo', function (err, req, res, data) {
+            assert.strictEqual(err.name, 'ConnectTimeoutError');
+            assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+        assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('JsonClient should increment and decrement inflight on request ' +
+    'timeout', function (done) {
+        // setup client to point to unresolvable IP
+        JSONCLIENT.get('/timeout', function (err, req, res, data) {
+            assert.strictEqual(err.name, 'RequestTimeoutError');
+            assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('JsonClient should count multiple inflight requests', function (done) {
+        var count = 4;
+
+        function decrement() {
+            count--;
+
+            if (count === 0) {
+                assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+                done();
+            }
+        }
+
+        JSONCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+
+        JSONCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 2);
+
+        JSONCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 3);
+
+        JSONCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(JSONCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 4);
+    });
+
+    it('StringClient should increment and decrement inflight requests',
+    function (done) {
+        // request count decremented right before callback is fired.
+        STRINGCLIENT.get('/200', function (err, req, res, data) {
+            assert.ifError(err);
+            assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+
+        // after firing one request
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('StringClient should increment and decrement inflight on connection ' +
+    'timeout',
+    function (done) {
+        // setup client to point to unresolvable IP
+        var client = clients.createStringClient({
+            url: 'http://10.255.255.1/',
+            connectTimeout: 100,
+            retry: {
+                minTimeout: 100,
+                maxTimeout: 500,
+                // ensure even with retries we do correct counting
+                retries: 3
+            }
+        });
+        client.get('/foo', function (err, req, res, data) {
+            assert.strictEqual(err.name, 'ConnectTimeoutError');
+            assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+        assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('StringClient should increment and decrement inflight on request ' +
+    'timeout', function (done) {
+        // setup client to point to unresolvable IP
+        STRINGCLIENT.get('/timeout', function (err, req, res, data) {
+            assert.strictEqual(err.name, 'RequestTimeoutError');
+            assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('StringClient should count multiple inflight requests', function (done) {
+
+        var count = 4;
+
+        function decrement() {
+            count--;
+
+            if (count === 0) {
+                assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+                done();
+            }
+        }
+
+        STRINGCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+
+        STRINGCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 2);
+
+        STRINGCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 3);
+
+        STRINGCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(STRINGCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 4);
+    });
+
+    it('HttpClient should increment and decrement inflight requests',
+    function (done) {
+        HTTPCLIENT.get('/200', function (err, req) {
+            assert.ifError(err);
+            assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+
+            req.on('result', function (_err, res) {
+                assert.ifError(_err);
+                res.on('data', _.noop);
+                res.on('end', function () {
+                    assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+                    return done();
+                });
+            });
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('HttpClient should increment and decrement connect timeout',
+    function (done) {
+        // setup client to point to unresolvable IP
+        var client = clients.createHttpClient({
+            url: 'http://10.255.255.1/',
+            connectTimeout: 100,
+            retry: false
+        });
+
+        client.get('/timeout', function (err, req) {
+            assert.ok(err);
+            assert.strictEqual(err.name, 'ConnectTimeoutError');
+            assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 0);
+            return done();
+        });
+
+        assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 1);
+    });
+
+    it('HttpClient should increment and decrement request timeout',
+    function (done) {
+        HTTPCLIENT.get('/timeout', function (err, req) {
+            // no connect timeout
+            assert.ifError(err);
+            assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+
+            req.on('result', function (_err, res) {
+                assert.ok(_err);
+                assert.strictEqual(_err.name, 'RequestTimeoutError');
+                assert.notOk(res);
+                assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+                return done();
+            });
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('HttpClient should increment and decrement on forced req abort',
+    function (done) {
+
+        var client = clients.createHttpClient({
+            url: 'http://localhost:3000'
+        });
+
+        client.get('/timeout', function (err, req) {
+            // no connect timeout
+            assert.ifError(err);
+            assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 1);
+
+            req.on('result', function (_err, res) {
+                assert.strictEqual(client.inflightRequests(), 0);
+                assert.ok(_err);
+                assert.ok(_err.message, 'socket hang up');
+                assert.isNull(res);
+                return done();
+            });
+
+            req.abort();
+        });
+    });
+
+    it('HttpClient should count multiple inflight requests', function (done) {
+
+        var count = 4;
+
+        function decrement(err, req) {
+            assert.ifError(err);
+
+            req.on('result', function (err2, res) {
+                assert.ifError(err2);
+                res.on('data', _.noop);
+                res.on('end', function () {
+                    count--;
+
+                    if (count === 0) {
+                        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 0);
+                        done();
+                    }
+                });
+            });
+        }
+
+        HTTPCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 1);
+
+        HTTPCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 2);
+
+        HTTPCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 3);
+
+        HTTPCLIENT.get('/200', decrement);
+        assert.strictEqual(HTTPCLIENT.inflightRequests(), 4);
+    });
+});