diff --git a/doc/configuration.txt b/doc/configuration.txt
index 6e33f5994..6eec8c10b 100644
--- a/doc/configuration.txt
+++ b/doc/configuration.txt
@@ -13682,7 +13682,19 @@ be_conn([<backend>]) : integer
   possibly including the connection being evaluated. If no backend name is
   specified, the current one is used. But it is also possible to check another
   backend. It can be used to use a specific farm when the nominal one is full.
-  See also the "fe_conn", "queue" and "be_sess_rate" criteria.
+  See also the "fe_conn", "queue", "be_conn_free", and "be_sess_rate" criteria.
+
+be_conn_free([<backend>]) : integer
+  Returns an integer value corresponding to the number of available connections
+  across available servers in the backend. Queue slots are not included. Backup
+  servers are also not included, unless all other servers are down. If no
+  backend name is specified, the current one is used. But it is also possible
+  to check another backend. It can be used to use a specific farm when the
+  nominal one is full. See also the "be_conn" and "connslots" criteria.
+
+  OTHER CAVEATS AND NOTES: if any of the server maxconn, or maxqueue is 0
+  (meaning unlimited), then this fetch clearly does not make sense, in which
+  case the value returned will be -1.
 
 be_sess_rate([<backend>]) : integer
   Returns an integer value corresponding to the sessions creation rate on the
diff --git a/src/backend.c b/src/backend.c
index 1aadca590..01bd4b161 100644
--- a/src/backend.c
+++ b/src/backend.c
@@ -1792,6 +1792,46 @@ smp_fetch_be_conn(const struct arg *args, struct sample *smp, const char *kw, vo
 	return 1;
 }
 
+/* set temp integer to the number of available connections across available
+	*	servers on the backend.
+ * Accepts exactly 1 argument. Argument is a backend, other types will lead to
+ * undefined behaviour.
+	*/
+static int
+smp_fetch_be_conn_free(const struct arg *args, struct sample *smp, const char *kw, void *private)
+{
+	struct server *iterator;
+	struct proxy *px;
+	unsigned int maxconn;
+
+	smp->flags = SMP_F_VOL_TEST;
+	smp->data.type = SMP_T_SINT;
+	smp->data.u.sint = 0;
+
+	for (iterator = args->data.prx->srv; iterator; iterator = iterator->next) {
+		if (iterator->cur_state == SRV_ST_STOPPED)
+			continue;
+
+		px = iterator->proxy;
+		if (!srv_currently_usable(iterator) ||
+		    ((iterator->flags & SRV_F_BACKUP) &&
+		     (px->srv_act || (iterator != px->lbprm.fbck && !(px->options & PR_O_USE_ALL_BK)))))
+			continue;
+
+		if (iterator->maxconn == 0) {
+			/* one active server is unlimited, return -1 */
+			smp->data.u.sint = -1;
+			return 1;
+		}
+
+		maxconn = srv_dynamic_maxconn(iterator);
+		if (maxconn > iterator->cur_sess)
+			smp->data.u.sint += maxconn - iterator->cur_sess;
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
 /* set temp integer to the total number of queued connections on the backend.
  * Accepts exactly 1 argument. Argument is a backend, other types will lead to
  * undefined behaviour.
@@ -1897,6 +1937,7 @@ static int sample_conv_nbsrv(const struct arg *args, struct sample *smp, void *p
 static struct sample_fetch_kw_list smp_kws = {ILH, {
 	{ "avg_queue",     smp_fetch_avg_queue_size, ARG1(1,BE),  NULL, SMP_T_SINT, SMP_USE_INTRN, },
 	{ "be_conn",       smp_fetch_be_conn,        ARG1(1,BE),  NULL, SMP_T_SINT, SMP_USE_INTRN, },
+	{ "be_conn_free",  smp_fetch_be_conn_free,   ARG1(1,BE),  NULL, SMP_T_SINT, SMP_USE_INTRN, },
 	{ "be_id",         smp_fetch_be_id,          0,           NULL, SMP_T_SINT, SMP_USE_BKEND, },
 	{ "be_name",       smp_fetch_be_name,        0,           NULL, SMP_T_STR,  SMP_USE_BKEND, },
 	{ "be_sess_rate",  smp_fetch_be_sess_rate,   ARG1(1,BE),  NULL, SMP_T_SINT, SMP_USE_INTRN, },