diff --git a/include/uv.h b/include/uv.h
index b9e5140d2..dd394eb9c 100644
--- a/include/uv.h
+++ b/include/uv.h
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ UV_EXTERN size_t uv_req_size(uv_req_type type);
  * Returns 1 if the prepare/check/idle/timer handle has been started, 0
  * otherwise. For other handle types this always returns 1.
  */
-UV_EXTERN int uv_is_active(uv_handle_t* handle);
+UV_EXTERN int uv_is_active(const uv_handle_t* handle);
 
 /*
  * Request handle to be closed. close_cb will be called asynchronously after
diff --git a/src/unix/core.c b/src/unix/core.c
index 5d5048ad3..7bd914657 100644
--- a/src/unix/core.c
+++ b/src/unix/core.c
@@ -289,16 +289,16 @@ void uv__req_init(uv_loop_t* loop, uv_req_t* req) {
 }
 
 
-int uv_is_active(uv_handle_t* handle) {
+int uv_is_active(const uv_handle_t* handle) {
   switch (handle->type) {
   case UV_CHECK:
-    return uv__check_active((uv_check_t*)handle);
+    return uv__check_active((const uv_check_t*)handle);
   case UV_IDLE:
-    return uv__idle_active((uv_idle_t*)handle);
+    return uv__idle_active((const uv_idle_t*)handle);
   case UV_PREPARE:
-    return uv__prepare_active((uv_prepare_t*)handle);
+    return uv__prepare_active((const uv_prepare_t*)handle);
   case UV_TIMER:
-    return uv__timer_active((uv_timer_t*)handle);
+    return uv__timer_active((const uv_timer_t*)handle);
   default:
     return 1;
   }
diff --git a/src/win/handle.c b/src/win/handle.c
index d19492c0e..737b6375f 100644
--- a/src/win/handle.c
+++ b/src/win/handle.c
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ uv_handle_type uv_guess_handle(uv_file file) {
 }
 
 
-int uv_is_active(uv_handle_t* handle) {
+int uv_is_active(const uv_handle_t* handle) {
   switch (handle->type) {
     case UV_TIMER:
     case UV_IDLE: