diff --git a/examples/simple/simple.c b/examples/simple/simple.c
index 402d863..05ef986 100644
--- a/examples/simple/simple.c
+++ b/examples/simple/simple.c
@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ static void gameLoop() {
         ++FrustrationLevel;
         
         updateDiscordPresence();
+        Discord_Update();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/include/discord-rpc.h b/include/discord-rpc.h
index bf775d6..a65d8ee 100644
--- a/include/discord-rpc.h
+++ b/include/discord-rpc.h
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ void Discord_Initialize(const char* applicationId, DiscordEventHandlers* handler
 void Discord_Shutdown();
 void Discord_UpdatePresence(const DiscordRichPresence* presence);
 
+/* checks for incoming messages, dispatches callbacks */
+void Discord_Update();
+
 /* later
 
 struct DiscordChannelEventHandlers {
diff --git a/src/discord-rpc.cpp b/src/discord-rpc.cpp
index 1d3cece..32c47fa 100644
--- a/src/discord-rpc.cpp
+++ b/src/discord-rpc.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,8 @@
 static RpcConnection* MyConnection = nullptr;
 static char ApplicationId[64]{};
 static DiscordEventHandlers Handlers{};
+static bool wasJustConnected = false;
+static bool wasJustDisconnected = false;
 
 void Discord_Initialize(const char* applicationId, DiscordEventHandlers* handlers)
 {
@@ -18,8 +20,8 @@ void Discord_Initialize(const char* applicationId, DiscordEventHandlers* handler
     }
 
     MyConnection = RpcConnection::Create();
-    MyConnection->onConnect = Handlers.ready;
-    MyConnection->onDisconnect = Handlers.disconnected;
+    MyConnection->onConnect = []() { wasJustConnected = true; };
+    MyConnection->onDisconnect = []() { wasJustDisconnected = true; };
     MyConnection->Open();
 }
 
@@ -38,3 +40,20 @@ void Discord_UpdatePresence(const DiscordRichPresence* presence)
     frame->length = sizeof(uint32_t) + (jsonWrite - frame->message);
     MyConnection->WriteFrame(frame);
 }
+
+void Discord_Update()
+{
+    // check for messages
+    // todo
+
+    // fire callbacks
+    if (wasJustDisconnected && Handlers.disconnected) {
+        wasJustDisconnected = false;
+        Handlers.disconnected();
+    }
+
+    if (wasJustConnected && Handlers.ready) {
+        wasJustConnected = false;
+        Handlers.ready();
+    }
+}