--- a/src/oct-iostrm.cc
+++ b/src/oct-iostrm.cc
@@ -60,12 +60,28 @@
   ::error ("%s: invalid operation", stream_type ());
 }
 
+// Return non-zero if EOF has been reached on this stream.
+
+bool
+octave_istream::eof (void) const
+{
+  return is && is->eof ();
+}
+
 octave_stream
 octave_istream::create (istream *arg, const string& nm)
 {
   return octave_stream (new octave_istream (arg, nm));
 }
 
+// Return non-zero if EOF has been reached on this stream.
+
+bool
+octave_ostream::eof (void) const
+{
+  return os && os->eof ();
+}
+
 octave_stream
 octave_ostream::create (ostream *arg, const string& nm)
 {