diff --git a/src/write.rs b/src/write.rs
index 747367e..f0fcdc5 100644
--- a/src/write.rs
+++ b/src/write.rs
@@ -293,6 +293,45 @@ where
         }
     }
 
+    /// Try to publish once without waiting.
+    ///
+    /// This performs a single, non-blocking check of reader epochs. If all current readers have
+    /// advanced since the last swap, it performs a publish and returns `true`. If any reader may
+    /// still be accessing the old copy, it does nothing and returns `false`.
+    ///
+    /// Unlike [`publish`](Self::publish), this never spins or waits. Use it on latency-sensitive
+    /// paths where skipping a publish is preferable to blocking; call again later or fall back to
+    /// [`publish`](Self::publish) if you must ensure visibility.
+    ///
+    /// Returns `true` if a publish occurred, `false` otherwise.
+    pub fn try_publish(&mut self) -> bool {
+        let epochs = Arc::clone(&self.epochs);
+        let mut epochs = epochs.lock().unwrap();
+
+        // This wait loop is exactly like the one in wait, except that if we find a reader that
+        // has not observed the latest swap, we return rather than spin-and-retry.
+        self.last_epochs.resize(epochs.capacity(), 0);
+        for (ri, epoch) in epochs.iter() {
+            if self.last_epochs[ri] % 2 == 0 {
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            let now = epoch.load(Ordering::Acquire);
+            if now != self.last_epochs[ri] {
+                continue;
+            } else {
+                return false;
+            }
+        }
+        #[cfg(test)]
+        {
+            self.is_waiting.store(false, Ordering::Relaxed);
+        }
+        self.update_and_swap(&mut epochs);
+
+        true
+    }
+
     /// Publish all operations append to the log to reads.
     ///
     /// This method needs to wait for all readers to move to the "other" copy of the data so that
@@ -312,6 +351,17 @@ where
 
         self.wait(&mut epochs);
 
+        self.update_and_swap(&mut epochs)
+    }
+
+    /// Brings `w_handle` up to date with the oplog, then swaps `r_handle` and `w_handle`.
+    ///
+    /// This method must only be called when all readers have exited `w_handle` (e.g., after
+    /// `wait`).
+    fn update_and_swap(
+        &mut self,
+        epochs: &mut MutexGuard<'_, slab::Slab<Arc<AtomicUsize>>>,
+    ) -> &mut Self {
         if !self.first {
             // all the readers have left!
             // safety: we haven't freed the Box, and no readers are accessing the w_handle
@@ -558,8 +608,8 @@ struct CheckWriteHandleSend;
 
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
-    use crate::sync::{AtomicUsize, Mutex, Ordering};
-    use crate::Absorb;
+    use crate::sync::{Arc, AtomicUsize, Mutex, Ordering};
+    use crate::{read, Absorb};
     use slab::Slab;
     include!("./utilities.rs");
 
@@ -713,4 +763,28 @@ mod tests {
         w.publish();
         assert_eq!(w.refreshes, 4);
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn try_publish() {
+        let (mut w, _r) = crate::new::<i32, _>();
+
+        // Case 1: A reader has not advanced (odd and unchanged) -> returns false
+        let mut epochs_slab = Slab::new();
+        let idx = epochs_slab.insert(Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(1))); // odd epoch, "in read"
+                                                                     // Ensure last_epochs sees this reader as odd and unchanged
+        w.last_epochs = vec![0; epochs_slab.capacity()];
+        w.last_epochs[idx] = 1;
+        w.epochs = Arc::new(Mutex::new(epochs_slab));
+        assert_eq!(w.try_publish(), false);
+
+        // Case 2: All readers have advanced since last swap -> returns true and publishes
+        let mut epochs_slab_ok = Slab::new();
+        let idx_ok = epochs_slab_ok.insert(Arc::new(AtomicUsize::new(2))); // advanced
+        w.last_epochs = vec![0; epochs_slab_ok.capacity()];
+        w.last_epochs[idx_ok] = 1; // previously odd
+        w.epochs = Arc::new(Mutex::new(epochs_slab_ok));
+        let before = w.refreshes;
+        assert_eq!(w.try_publish(), true);
+        assert_eq!(w.refreshes, before + 1);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/tests/deque.rs b/tests/deque.rs
index 8ef5333..bfbebae 100644
--- a/tests/deque.rs
+++ b/tests/deque.rs
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ fn deque() {
     expect(&r, &[1, 2, 3]);
 
     w.append(Op::PushBack(mkval(4)));
-    w.publish();
+    assert!(w.try_publish());
 
     registry.expect(4);
     expect(&r, &[1, 2, 3, 4]);
diff --git a/tests/loom.rs b/tests/loom.rs
index 68fa136..d01c9eb 100644
--- a/tests/loom.rs
+++ b/tests/loom.rs
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ mod loom_tests {
             let (mut w, r) = left_right::new::<i32, _>();
 
             w.append(CounterAddOp(1));
-            w.publish();
+            assert!(w.try_publish());
 
             let jh = thread::spawn(move || *r.enter().unwrap());