diff --git a/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py b/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py
index 460364a0b..8803c5a95 100644
--- a/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py
+++ b/youtube_dlc/downloader/common.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import time
 import random
 
 from ..compat import compat_os_name
+from ..heartbeat import Heartbeat
 from ..utils import (
     decodeArgument,
     encodeFilename,
@@ -369,6 +370,12 @@ class FileDownloader(object):
                 '[download] Sleeping %s seconds...' % (
                     int(sleep_interval_sub)))
             time.sleep(sleep_interval_sub)
+
+        if info_dict.get('heartbeat'):
+            self.heartbeat = Heartbeat(self.ydl, info_dict.get('heartbeat'))
+            self.add_progress_hook(self.heartbeat.check_download_status)
+            self.heartbeat.start()
+
         return self.real_download(filename, info_dict)
 
     def real_download(self, filename, info_dict):
diff --git a/youtube_dlc/heartbeat.py b/youtube_dlc/heartbeat.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a7d3229a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/youtube_dlc/heartbeat.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import time
+import threading
+import traceback
+
+from .utils import (
+    sanitized_Request
+)
+
+
+class Heartbeat(object):
+    def __init__(self, ydl, params):
+        self.ydl = ydl
+
+        data = params.get('data')
+        if type(data) is str:
+            data = data.encode()
+        self.request = sanitized_Request(
+            params.get('url'),
+            data=data,
+            headers=params.get('headers', {}),
+            method=params.get('method')
+        )
+
+        self.interval = params.get('interval')
+        self.stopped = False
+        self.thread = threading.Thread(target=self.__heartbeat, daemon=True)
+
+    def start(self):
+        if self.ydl.params.get('verbose'):
+            self.ydl.to_screen('[heartbeat] Heartbeat every %s seconds' % self.interval)
+        self.thread.start()
+
+    def stop(self):
+        self.stopped = True
+
+    def check_download_status(self, progress):
+        status = progress.get('status')
+        if status == 'finished' or status == 'error':
+            self.stop()
+
+    def __heartbeat(self):
+        while not self.stopped:
+            try:
+                if self.ydl.params.get('verbose'):
+                    self.ydl.to_screen('[heartbeat]')
+                self.ydl.urlopen(self.request)
+            except Exception:
+                if self.ydl.params.get('verbose'):
+                    traceback.print_exc()
+                self.ydl.to_screen("[heartbeat] Heartbeat failed")
+            time.sleep(self.interval)