diff --git a/src/ecpool_worker.erl b/src/ecpool_worker.erl
index 26708601..561648d5 100644
--- a/src/ecpool_worker.erl
+++ b/src/ecpool_worker.erl
@@ -60,9 +60,14 @@
          }).
 
 -type start_result() :: not_started | started | {start_failed, term()} | {exit, term()} | undefined.
+
+-define(client_not_yet_started, client_not_yet_started).
 -define(set_start_result(RESULT), erlang:put(start_result, RESULT)).
 -define(take_start_result(), erlang:erase(start_result)).
 
+-define(set_connect_result(RESULT), put(connect_result, RESULT)).
+-define(peek_connect_result(), get(connect_result)).
+
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
 %% Callback
 %%--------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -82,7 +87,10 @@ start_link(Pool, Id, Mod, Opts) ->
 
 
 %% @doc Get client/connection.
--spec(client(pid()) -> {ok, Client :: pid()} | {ok, {Client :: pid(), pid()}} | {error, Reason :: term()}).
+-spec(client(pid()) ->
+    {ok, Client :: pid()}
+    | {ok, {Client :: pid(), pid()}}
+    | {error, {disconnected, Reason :: term()}}).
 client(Pid) ->
     gen_server:call(Pid, client, infinity).
 
@@ -178,7 +186,17 @@ handle_call(is_connected, _From, State = #state{client = Client}) when is_pid(Cl
 handle_call(is_connected, _From, State = #state{client = Client}) ->
     {reply, Client =/= undefined, State};
 handle_call(client, _From, State = #state{client = undefined}) ->
-    {reply, {error, disconnected}, State};
+    LastError =
+        case ?peek_connect_result() of
+            #{ result := {error, Reason}
+             , time := RegisteredAt
+             } ->
+                SinceMS = now_ms() - RegisteredAt,
+                #{reason => Reason, time_since_observed_ms => SinceMS};
+            _ ->
+                ?client_not_yet_started
+        end,
+    {reply, {error, {disconnected, LastError}}, State};
 handle_call(client, _From, State = #state{client = Client}) ->
     {reply, {ok, Client}, State};
 handle_call({exec, Action}, _From, State = #state{client = Client}) ->
@@ -221,6 +239,7 @@ handle_cast(_Msg, State) ->
 handle_info({'EXIT', Pid, Reason}, State = #state{opts = Opts, supervisees = SupPids}) ->
     case lists:member(Pid, SupPids) of
         true ->
+            set_connect_result({error, Reason}),
             case proplists:get_value(auto_reconnect, Opts, false) of
                 false -> {stop, {shutdown, Reason}, erase_client(Pid, State)};
                 Secs -> reconnect(Secs, erase_client(Pid, State))
@@ -306,7 +325,17 @@ handle_disconnect(Client, OnDisconnectList) ->
     lists:foreach(fun(OnDisconnectCallback) -> with_client(OnDisconnectCallback, Client) end,
                   OnDisconnectList).
 
-connect_internal(State) ->
+connect_internal(State0) ->
+    case do_connect_internal(State0) of
+        {ok, State} ->
+            set_connect_result(ok),
+            {ok, State};
+        {error, Reason} ->
+            set_connect_result({error, Reason}),
+            {error, Reason}
+    end.
+
+do_connect_internal(State) ->
     try connect(State) of
         {ok, Client} when is_pid(Client) ->
             erlang:link(Client),
@@ -447,3 +476,12 @@ monitor_child(Pid) ->
             %% that will be handled in shutdown/2.
             ok
     end.
+
+set_connect_result(Result) ->
+    Ctx = #{
+        result => Result,
+        time => now_ms()
+    },
+    ?set_connect_result(Ctx).
+
+now_ms() -> erlang:system_time(millisecond).
diff --git a/test/ecpool_SUITE.erl b/test/ecpool_SUITE.erl
index a6fa5c02..0f690e31 100644
--- a/test/ecpool_SUITE.erl
+++ b/test/ecpool_SUITE.erl
@@ -370,3 +370,28 @@ t_big_pool_dies_and_recovers(_TCConfig) ->
     ?assertEqual(ok, ecpool:check_pool_integrity(Pool)),
     ok = ecpool:stop_sup_pool(Pool),
     ok.
+
+t_client_dead_reason(_TCConfig) ->
+    Pool = ?FUNCTION_NAME,
+    Opts = [ {pool_size, 1}
+           , {pool_type, hash}
+           , {auto_reconnect, 2}
+           ],
+    {ok, _} = ecpool:start_sup_pool(Pool, test_client, Opts),
+    [Worker] = ecpool:workers(Pool),
+    {ok, Client} = ecpool_worker:client(Worker),
+    MRef = monitor(process, Client),
+    Reason = <<"this is how I died">>,
+    exit(Client, Reason),
+    receive
+        {'DOWN', MRef, _, _, _} ->
+            ok
+    after 1_000 ->
+            ct:fail("client didn't die")
+    end,
+    ?assertMatch(
+       {error, {disconnected, #{reason := Reason, time_since_observed_ms := _}}},
+       ecpool_worker:client(Worker)
+      ),
+    ok = ecpool:stop_sup_pool(Pool),
+    ok.