diff --git a/qerr/quic_error.go b/qerr/quic_error.go
index f581ab14d..9e1956fdc 100644
--- a/qerr/quic_error.go
+++ b/qerr/quic_error.go
@@ -31,6 +31,16 @@ func (e *QuicError) Error() string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", e.ErrorCode.String(), e.ErrorMessage)
 }
 
+func (e *QuicError) Timeout() bool {
+	switch e.ErrorCode {
+	case NetworkIdleTimeout,
+		HandshakeTimeout,
+		TimeoutsWithOpenStreams:
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
 // ToQuicError converts an arbitrary error to a QuicError. It leaves QuicErrors
 // unchanged, and properly handles `ErrorCode`s.
 func ToQuicError(err error) *QuicError {
diff --git a/qerr/quic_error_test.go b/qerr/quic_error_test.go
index 5c84a75f0..58d48feb3 100644
--- a/qerr/quic_error_test.go
+++ b/qerr/quic_error_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,13 @@ var _ = Describe("Quic error", func() {
 		})
 	})
 
+	Context("TimeoutError", func() {
+		It("works as timeout error", func() {
+			err := Error(HandshakeTimeout, "handshake timeout")
+			Expect(err.Timeout()).Should(BeTrue())
+		})
+	})
+
 	Context("ToQuicError", func() {
 		It("leaves QuicError unchanged", func() {
 			err := Error(DecryptionFailure, "foo")