diff --git a/src/internal.c b/src/internal.c
index 77382f50c..90eb3800e 100644
--- a/src/internal.c
+++ b/src/internal.c
@@ -15194,6 +15194,7 @@ int SendKexInit(WOLFSSH* ssh)
             macAlgoNamesSz = 0, noneNamesSz = 0;
 
     int ret = WS_SUCCESS;
+    int delivered = 0;
 
     WLOG(WS_LOG_DEBUG, "Entering SendKexInit()");
 
@@ -15220,8 +15221,6 @@ int SendKexInit(WOLFSSH* ssh)
     }
 
     if (ret == WS_SUCCESS) {
-        /* Set self is keying flag since we started sending the KEX init msg */
-        ssh->isKeying |= WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING;
         if (ssh->handshake == NULL) {
             ssh->handshake = HandshakeInfoNew(ssh->ctx->heap);
             if (ssh->handshake == NULL) {
@@ -15349,11 +15348,19 @@ int SendKexInit(WOLFSSH* ssh)
     }
 
     if (ret == WS_SUCCESS) {
+        word32 flushes = ssh->txFlushCount;
+
         ret = wolfSSH_SendPacket(ssh);
+        delivered = SendPacketDelivered(ssh, flushes, ret);
     }
 
-    if (ret != WS_WANT_WRITE && ret != WS_SUCCESS)
+    if (delivered) {
+        /* Set self is keying flag now the KEX init msg is away */
+        ssh->isKeying |= WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING;
+    }
+    else {
         PurgePacket(ssh);
+    }
 
     WLOG(WS_LOG_DEBUG, "Leaving SendKexInit(), ret = %d", ret);
     return ret;
diff --git a/src/ssh.c b/src/ssh.c
index 2afd0cab4..98538e465 100644
--- a/src/ssh.c
+++ b/src/ssh.c
@@ -4715,6 +4715,12 @@ int wolfSSH_OutputPending(const WOLFSSH* ssh)
 }
 
 
+int wolfSSH_RekeyPending(const WOLFSSH* ssh)
+{
+    return (ssh != NULL && ssh->isKeying != 0);
+}
+
+
 #ifdef WOLFSSH_FWD
 
 int wolfSSH_CTX_SetFwdCb(WOLFSSH_CTX* ctx,
diff --git a/tests/regress.c b/tests/regress.c
index 3c638fe81..34324dc66 100644
--- a/tests/regress.c
+++ b/tests/regress.c
@@ -5893,6 +5893,39 @@ static void TestChannelGetSessionGrantedAccessor(void)
 }
 
 
+/* Covers each keying bit alone, both together, and a NULL session. */
+static void TestRekeyPendingAccessor(void)
+{
+    WOLFSSH_CTX* ctx;
+    WOLFSSH* ssh;
+
+    AssertIntEQ(wolfSSH_RekeyPending(NULL), 0);
+    AssertIntEQ(wolfSSH_OutputPending(NULL), 0);
+
+    ctx = wolfSSH_CTX_new(WOLFSSH_ENDPOINT_CLIENT, NULL);
+    AssertNotNull(ctx);
+    ssh = wolfSSH_new(ctx);
+    AssertNotNull(ssh);
+
+    AssertIntEQ(wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh), 0);
+
+    ssh->isKeying = WOLFSSH_PEER_IS_KEYING;
+    AssertTrue(wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh) != 0);
+
+    ssh->isKeying = WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING;
+    AssertTrue(wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh) != 0);
+
+    ssh->isKeying = WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING | WOLFSSH_PEER_IS_KEYING;
+    AssertTrue(wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh) != 0);
+
+    ssh->isKeying = 0;
+    AssertIntEQ(wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh), 0);
+
+    wolfSSH_free(ssh);
+    wolfSSH_CTX_free(ctx);
+}
+
+
 /* A username change after the first userauth request must end the session. */
 static void TestUsernameChangeDisconnects(void)
 {
@@ -16038,6 +16071,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
     TestChannelReqSubsysCallbackRuns();
     TestSessionReqCallbackSeesCommandSz();
     TestChannelGetSessionGrantedAccessor();
+    TestRekeyPendingAccessor();
     TestMalformedSessionRequestSkipsCallback();
     TestSessionReqCallbackMayFreeChannel();
     TestAppChannelsAcceptKeepsStopWithPendingOutput();
diff --git a/tests/testsuite.c b/tests/testsuite.c
index 48ed59532..77764bdba 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite.c
+++ b/tests/testsuite.c
@@ -241,13 +241,6 @@ int wolfSSH_TestsuiteTest(int argc, char** argv)
 
     wolfSSH_Init();
 
-    /* Linked against the installed library, so this also proves
-     * wolfSSH_OutputPending() is exported and not hidden. */
-    if (wolfSSH_OutputPending(NULL) != 0) {
-        fprintf(stderr, "wolfSSH_OutputPending(NULL) was not zero\n");
-        return EXIT_FAILURE;
-    }
-
     #if defined(FIPS_VERSION_GE) && FIPS_VERSION_GE(5,2)
     {
         int i;
diff --git a/tests/unit.c b/tests/unit.c
index e8ddc1d2a..b421068f5 100644
--- a/tests/unit.c
+++ b/tests/unit.c
@@ -4565,6 +4565,13 @@ static WS_MAYBE_UNUSED int OobIoSend(WOLFSSH* ssh, void* buf, word32 sz,
     return (int)sz + 1;
 }
 
+/* Fires once the message highwater mark is crossed and reports an error. */
+static WS_MAYBE_UNUSED int FailHighwater(byte side, void* ctx)
+{
+    (void)side; (void)ctx;
+    return WS_FATAL_ERROR;
+}
+
 static int test_DoChannelExtendedData_overflow(void)
 {
     WOLFSSH_CTX*     ctx = NULL;
@@ -5705,13 +5712,6 @@ static int test_ChannelExtDataBufferGrowth(void)
 
 #ifndef NO_WOLFSSH_SERVER
 
-/* Fires once the message highwater mark is crossed and reports an error. */
-static int FailHighwater(byte side, void* ctx)
-{
-    (void)side; (void)ctx;
-    return WS_FATAL_ERROR;
-}
-
 /* wolfSSH_SendPacket() runs the highwater check after the packet is on the wire
  * and returns the highwater callback's status, so a failing callback makes a
  * delivered WINDOW_ADJUST look like a failed send. Credit re-parked then is
@@ -7189,6 +7189,8 @@ static int test_WorkerKeyingReportsRekey(void)
     if (reportedId != ch->channel) { result = -1818; goto done; }
     /* The flush ran and drained, which the rekey report is gated on. */
     if (ssh->outputBuffer.length != 0) { result = -1817; goto done; }
+    /* The predicate answers the same pass the status reports. */
+    if (!wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh)) { result = -1819; goto done; }
 
 done:
     s_recvPkt = NULL;
@@ -8756,6 +8758,81 @@ static int test_TriggerKeyExchangeKeepsError(void)
     wolfSSH_CTX_free(ctx);
     return result;
 }
+
+
+/* Covers a KEX init whose send fails outright and one that short-writes. */
+static int test_KexInitSendAwayGatesKeying(void)
+{
+    WOLFSSH_CTX* ctx = NULL;
+    WOLFSSH*     ssh = NULL;
+    int          result = 0;
+    int          ret;
+
+    ctx = wolfSSH_CTX_new(WOLFSSH_ENDPOINT_CLIENT, NULL);
+    if (ctx == NULL)
+        return -1897;
+    /* No refusals, so the first write resets the socket. */
+    s_sendRefusals = 0;
+    wolfSSH_SetIOSend(ctx, RefuseThenResetIoSend);
+    wolfSSH_SetIORecv(ctx, PacketIoRecv);
+
+    ssh = wolfSSH_new(ctx);
+    if (ssh == NULL) { result = -1898; goto done; }
+
+    ret = wolfSSH_TriggerKeyExchange(ssh);
+    if (ret == WS_SUCCESS || ret == WS_WANT_WRITE) {
+        result = -1899;
+        goto done;
+    }
+    if (wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh)) { result = -1900; goto done; }
+
+    wolfSSH_free(ssh);
+
+    /* One refusal short-writes instead. */
+    s_sendRefusals = 1;
+    ssh = wolfSSH_new(ctx);
+    if (ssh == NULL) { result = -1903; goto done; }
+
+    ret = wolfSSH_TriggerKeyExchange(ssh);
+    if (ret != WS_SUCCESS && ret != WS_WANT_WRITE) {
+        result = -1904;
+        goto done;
+    }
+    if (!wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh)) { result = -1905; goto done; }
+
+    wolfSSH_free(ssh);
+    ssh = NULL;
+    wolfSSH_CTX_free(ctx);
+    ctx = NULL;
+
+    /* The transport takes the whole packet and the highwater callback then
+     * fails, so the error arrives with the KEX init already sent. */
+    ctx = wolfSSH_CTX_new(WOLFSSH_ENDPOINT_CLIENT, NULL);
+    if (ctx == NULL) { result = -1906; goto done; }
+    wolfSSH_SetIOSend(ctx, DiscardIoSend);
+    wolfSSH_SetIORecv(ctx, PacketIoRecv);
+    wolfSSH_SetHighwaterCb(ctx, 1, FailHighwater);
+
+    ssh = wolfSSH_new(ctx);
+    if (ssh == NULL) { result = -1907; goto done; }
+    if (wolfSSH_SetHighwater(ssh, 1) != WS_SUCCESS) {
+        result = -1908;
+        goto done;
+    }
+
+    ret = wolfSSH_TriggerKeyExchange(ssh);
+    if (ret == WS_SUCCESS) { result = -1909; goto done; }
+    if (!wolfSSH_RekeyPending(ssh)) { result = -1910; goto done; }
+
+done:
+    s_sendRefusals = 0;
+    s_recvPkt = NULL;
+    s_recvPktSz = 0;
+    s_recvPktOff = 0;
+    wolfSSH_free(ssh);
+    wolfSSH_CTX_free(ctx);
+    return result;
+}
 #endif /* NO_WOLFSSH_CLIENT */
 
 
@@ -22796,6 +22873,11 @@ int wolfSSH_UnitTest(int argc, char** argv)
     printf("TriggerKeyExchangeKeepsError: %s\n",
            (unitResult == 0 ? "SUCCESS" : "FAILED"));
     testResult = testResult || unitResult;
+
+    unitResult = test_KexInitSendAwayGatesKeying();
+    printf("KexInitSendAwayGatesKeying: %s\n",
+           (unitResult == 0 ? "SUCCESS" : "FAILED"));
+    testResult = testResult || unitResult;
 #endif
 
 
diff --git a/wolfssh/internal.h b/wolfssh/internal.h
index d41e93309..6682661b3 100644
--- a/wolfssh/internal.h
+++ b/wolfssh/internal.h
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ enum NameIdType {
 #define WOLFSSH_PROTOID_LIMIT 255
 
 /* Keep track of keying state for both sides of the connection.
- * WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING gets set on sending KEX init and
+ * WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING gets set once the KEX init is sent or queued and
  * WOLFSSH_PEER_IS_KEYING gets set on receiving KEX init */
 #define WOLFSSH_PEER_IS_KEYING 0x01
 #define WOLFSSH_SELF_IS_KEYING 0x02
diff --git a/wolfssh/ssh.h b/wolfssh/ssh.h
index 374ecc0d8..44d80f46c 100644
--- a/wolfssh/ssh.h
+++ b/wolfssh/ssh.h
@@ -104,6 +104,8 @@ WOLFSSH_API void wolfSSH_free(WOLFSSH* ssh);
  * the peer's disconnect, which is how most sessions end.
  * To ask whether a write is still owed, call wolfSSH_OutputPending() rather
  * than reading a status: it answers after any return, including a success.
+ * To ask whether a key exchange is in flight, call wolfSSH_RekeyPending()
+ * rather than reading a status: it answers after any return.
  *
  * For WS_CHAN_RXD, WS_EXTDATA, WS_EOF, WS_SUCCESS and a WS_REKEYING that
  * displaced one of those, channelId (when not NULL) names the channel the
@@ -118,6 +120,11 @@ WOLFSSH_API int wolfSSH_GetLastRxId(WOLFSSH* ssh, word32* channelId);
 /* Returns nonzero if a write is still owed. Session state */
 WOLFSSH_API int wolfSSH_OutputPending(const WOLFSSH* ssh);
 
+/* Returns nonzero while a key exchange is in flight, and 0 otherwise,
+ * including when ssh is NULL. Only NEWKEYS from both sides clears it, so a
+ * peer that abandons the exchange leaves it set. */
+WOLFSSH_API int wolfSSH_RekeyPending(const WOLFSSH* ssh);
+
 WOLFSSH_API int wolfSSH_set_fd(WOLFSSH* ssh, WS_SOCKET_T fd);
 WOLFSSH_API WS_SOCKET_T wolfSSH_get_fd(const WOLFSSH* ssh);