diff --git a/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/transport/stomp/StompConnection.java b/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/transport/stomp/StompConnection.java
index 767527e257..a21d0fde9b 100644
--- a/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/transport/stomp/StompConnection.java
+++ b/activemq-core/src/main/java/org/apache/activemq/transport/stomp/StompConnection.java
@@ -241,6 +241,12 @@ public class StompConnection {
         sendFrame(frame.format());
     }
 
+    public void keepAlive() throws Exception {
+        OutputStream outputStream = stompSocket.getOutputStream();
+        outputStream.write('\n');
+        outputStream.flush();
+    }
+
     protected String appendHeaders(HashMap<String, Object> headers) {
         StringBuilder result = new StringBuilder();
         for (String key : headers.keySet()) {