diff --git a/src/emc/task/emctaskmain.cc b/src/emc/task/emctaskmain.cc
--- a/src/emc/task/emctaskmain.cc
+++ b/src/emc/task/emctaskmain.cc
@@ -3490,4 +3490,9 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	// since emcStatus was passed to the WM init functions, it
 	// will be updated in the _update() functions above. There's
 	// no need to call the individual functions on all WM items.
+	// EMC_TASK_STAT_MSG::heartbeat is the native task-cycle oracle used by
+	// external clients.  Keep it monotonic and publish it with this cycle's
+	// status image so a reader can identify every task tick without relying on
+	// wall-clock sampling.
+	emcStatus->task.heartbeat++;
 	emcStatusBuffer->write(emcStatus);

diff --git a/src/emc/usr_intf/axis/extensions/emcmodule.cc b/src/emc/usr_intf/axis/extensions/emcmodule.cc
--- a/src/emc/usr_intf/axis/extensions/emcmodule.cc
+++ b/src/emc/usr_intf/axis/extensions/emcmodule.cc
@@ -409,4 +409,7 @@ static PyMemberDef Stat_members[] = {
     {(char*)"echo_serial_number", T_INT, O(echo_serial_number), READONLY},
     {(char*)"echo_serial_number", T_INT, O(echo_serial_number), READONLY},
     {(char*)"state", T_INT, O(status), READONLY},
+    {(char*)"task_heartbeat", T_UINT, O(task.heartbeat), READONLY,
+        "Native EMC task-loop heartbeat.  This counter is incremented by the "
+        "LinuxCNC task thread and is suitable for identifying native status ticks."},

 // task