diff --git a/datajoint/connection.py b/datajoint/connection.py
index 739e3208d..dc9910a05 100644
--- a/datajoint/connection.py
+++ b/datajoint/connection.py
@@ -99,6 +99,12 @@ def is_connected(self):
         """
         return self._conn.ping()
 
+    def ping(self):
+        """
+        Keep the sql server connected
+        """
+        return self._conn.ping()
+
     def query(self, query, args=(), as_dict=False):
         """
         Execute the specified query and return the tuple generator (cursor).