diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet.h b/src/wallet/monero_wallet.h
index 3970008..e0f8cef 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet.h
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet.h
@@ -129,6 +129,16 @@ namespace monero {
      */
     virtual ~monero_wallet() {}
 
+    /**
+     * Indicates if the wallet is watch-only, meaning it does have the private
+     * spend key and can therefore only observe incoming outputs.
+     *
+     * @return true if the wallet is watch-only, false otherwise
+     */
+    virtual bool is_watch_only() const {
+      throw runtime_error("is_watch_only() not supported");
+    }
+
     /**
      * Set the wallet's daemon connection.
      *
diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.h b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.h
index e8252e0..f948cce 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.h
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_core.h
@@ -173,6 +173,7 @@ namespace monero {
     /**
      * Supported wallet methods.
      */
+    bool is_watch_only() const { return m_w2->watch_only(); }
     void set_daemon_connection(const string& uri, const string& username = "", const string& password = "");
     void set_daemon_connection(const boost::optional<monero_rpc_connection>& connection);
     boost::optional<monero_rpc_connection> get_daemon_connection() const;
diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp
index 3b1a720..fa4afbe 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.cpp
@@ -178,6 +178,7 @@ namespace monero {
     }
 
     // initialize remaining wallet
+    wallet->m_is_watch_only = !has_spend_key;
     wallet->m_network_type = network_type;
     if (!spend_key.empty()) {
       wallet->m_language = language;
diff --git a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h
index b3484e6..053dc1f 100644
--- a/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h
+++ b/src/wallet/monero_wallet_keys.h
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ namespace monero {
     /**
      * Supported wallet methods.
      */
+    bool is_watch_only() const { return m_is_watch_only; }
     monero_version get_version() const;
     monero_network_type get_network_type() const { return m_network_type; }
     string get_mnemonic() const { return m_mnemonic; }
@@ -137,6 +138,7 @@ namespace monero {
     // --------------------------------- PRIVATE --------------------------------
 
   private:
+    bool m_is_watch_only;
     monero_network_type m_network_type;
     cryptonote::account_base m_account;
     string m_mnemonic;