diff --git a/serial_test/src/code_lock.rs b/serial_test/src/code_lock.rs
index cbb2161..dfb1a13 100644
--- a/serial_test/src/code_lock.rs
+++ b/serial_test/src/code_lock.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ impl UniqueReentrantMutex {
         self.locks.parallel_count()
     }
 
-    #[cfg(test)]
     pub fn is_locked(&self) -> bool {
         self.locks.is_locked()
     }
@@ -44,6 +43,63 @@ pub(crate) fn global_locks() -> &'static HashMap<String, UniqueReentrantMutex> {
     LOCKS.get_or_init(HashMap::new)
 }
 
+/// Check if we are holding a serial lock
+///
+/// Can be used to assert that a piece of code can only be called
+/// from a test marked `#[serial]`.
+///
+/// Example, with `#[serial]`:
+///
+/// ```
+/// use serial_test::{is_locked_serially, serial};
+///
+/// fn do_something_in_need_of_serialization() {
+///     assert!(is_locked_serially(None));
+///
+///     // ...
+/// }
+///
+/// #[test]
+/// # fn unused() {}
+/// #[serial]
+/// fn main() {
+///     do_something_in_need_of_serialization();
+/// }
+/// ```
+///
+/// Example, missing `#[serial]`:
+///
+/// ```should_panic
+/// use serial_test::{is_locked_serially, serial};
+///
+/// #[test]
+/// # fn unused() {}
+/// // #[serial] // <-- missing
+/// fn main() {
+///     assert!(is_locked_serially(None));
+/// }
+/// ```
+///
+/// Example, `#[test(some_key)]`:
+///
+/// ```
+/// use serial_test::{is_locked_serially, serial};
+///
+/// #[test]
+/// # fn unused() {}
+/// #[serial(some_key)]
+/// fn main() {
+///     assert!(is_locked_serially(Some("some_key")));
+///     assert!(!is_locked_serially(None));
+/// }
+/// ```
+pub fn is_locked_serially(name: Option<&str>) -> bool {
+    global_locks()
+        .get(name.unwrap_or_default())
+        .map(|lock| lock.get().is_locked())
+        .unwrap_or_default()
+}
+
 static MUTEX_ID: AtomicU32 = AtomicU32::new(1);
 
 impl UniqueReentrantMutex {
diff --git a/serial_test/src/lib.rs b/serial_test/src/lib.rs
index d6519f0..a5d71c0 100644
--- a/serial_test/src/lib.rs
+++ b/serial_test/src/lib.rs
@@ -112,3 +112,5 @@ pub use serial_test_derive::{parallel, serial};
 
 #[cfg(feature = "file_locks")]
 pub use serial_test_derive::{file_parallel, file_serial};
+
+pub use code_lock::is_locked_serially;
diff --git a/serial_test/src/rwlock.rs b/serial_test/src/rwlock.rs
index 0be0c90..95ed34a 100644
--- a/serial_test/src/rwlock.rs
+++ b/serial_test/src/rwlock.rs
@@ -49,7 +49,6 @@ impl Locks {
         }
     }
 
-    #[cfg(test)]
     pub fn is_locked(&self) -> bool {
         self.arc.serial.is_locked()
     }