diff --git a/djangoapps/heartbeat/__init__.py b/djangoapps/heartbeat/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2
diff --git a/djangoapps/heartbeat/urls.py b/djangoapps/heartbeat/urls.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f8047eb00a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/djangoapps/heartbeat/urls.py
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+from django.conf.urls.defaults import *
+
+urlpatterns = patterns('',
+    url(r'^$', 'heartbeat.views.heartbeat', name='heartbeat'),
+)
diff --git a/djangoapps/heartbeat/views.py b/djangoapps/heartbeat/views.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..879c9e6016
--- /dev/null
+++ b/djangoapps/heartbeat/views.py
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+import json
+from datetime import datetime
+from django.http import HttpResponse
+
+def heartbeat(request):
+    """
+    Simple view that a loadbalancer can check to verify that the app is up
+    """
+    output = {
+        'date': datetime.now().isoformat()
+    }
+    return HttpResponse(json.dumps(output, indent=4))
diff --git a/urls.py b/urls.py
index 4f9b0912ab..2e6e85a88f 100644
--- a/urls.py
+++ b/urls.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ if settings.COURSEWARE_ENABLED:
         url(r'^edit_circuit/(?P<circuit>[^/]*)$', 'circuit.views.edit_circuit'),
         url(r'^save_circuit/(?P<circuit>[^/]*)$', 'circuit.views.save_circuit'),
         url(r'^calculate$', 'util.views.calculate'),
+        url(r'^heartbeat$', include('heartbeat.urls')),
     )
 
 if settings.ENABLE_MULTICOURSE: