diff --git a/src/websockets/sync/connection.py b/src/websockets/sync/connection.py
index d8dbf140e..0ccbaef3e 100644
--- a/src/websockets/sync/connection.py
+++ b/src/websockets/sync/connection.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 import uuid
 from collections.abc import Iterable, Iterator, Mapping
 from types import TracebackType
-from typing import Any
+from typing import Any, Optional
 
 from ..exceptions import (
     ConcurrencyError,
@@ -216,11 +216,14 @@ def __iter__(self) -> Iterator[Data]:
         """
         try:
             while True:
-                yield self.recv()
+                # can't receive None if peek=False (default)
+                yield self.recv()  # type: ignore[misc]
         except ConnectionClosedOK:
             return
 
-    def recv(self, timeout: float | None = None, decode: bool | None = None) -> Data:
+    def recv(
+        self, timeout: float | None = None, decode: bool | None = None
+    ) -> Optional[Data]:
         """
         Receive the next message.
 
@@ -267,8 +270,16 @@ def recv(self, timeout: float | None = None, decode: bool | None = None) -> Data
                 :meth:`recv_streaming` concurrently.
 
         """
+        # Setup to handle the special case of a zero timeout
+        peek = timeout == 0.0
+        if peek:
+            # can't provide specific timeout if using timeout param to express
+            # peeking, default to no timeout in such case
+            timeout = None
+
+        # Attempt to receive a message
         try:
-            return self.recv_messages.get(timeout, decode)
+            return self.recv_messages.get(timeout, decode, peek)
         except EOFError:
             pass
             # fallthrough
diff --git a/src/websockets/sync/messages.py b/src/websockets/sync/messages.py
index 98490797f..a80003299 100644
--- a/src/websockets/sync/messages.py
+++ b/src/websockets/sync/messages.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 import codecs
 import queue
 import threading
-from typing import Any, Callable, Iterable, Iterator
+from typing import Any, Callable, Iterable, Iterator, Optional
 
 from ..exceptions import ConcurrencyError
 from ..frames import OP_BINARY, OP_CONT, OP_TEXT, Frame
@@ -105,11 +105,18 @@ def reset_queue(self, frames: Iterable[Frame]) -> None:
             for frame in queued:  # pragma: no cover
                 self.frames.put(frame)
 
-    def get(self, timeout: float | None = None, decode: bool | None = None) -> Data:
+    def get(
+        self,
+        timeout: float | None = None,
+        decode: bool | None = None,
+        peek: bool = False,
+    ) -> Optional[Data]:
         """
         Read the next message.
 
-        :meth:`get` returns a single :class:`str` or :class:`bytes`.
+        :meth:`get` returns a single :class:`str` or :class:`bytes`, or
+        :obj:`None` if the parameter ``peek`` is :obj:`True` and no message
+        is available.
 
         If the message is fragmented, :meth:`get` waits until the last frame is
         received, then it reassembles the message and returns it. To receive
@@ -121,6 +128,9 @@ def get(self, timeout: float | None = None, decode: bool | None = None) -> Data:
             decode: :obj:`False` disables UTF-8 decoding of text frames and
                 returns :class:`bytes`. :obj:`True` forces UTF-8 decoding of
                 binary frames and returns :class:`str`.
+            peek: If :obj:`True`, :meth:`get` returns :obj:`None` immediately
+                if no message is available, or will finish receiving a
+                message and return it, respecting ``timeout``.
 
         Raises:
             EOFError: If the stream of frames has ended.
@@ -140,6 +150,9 @@ def get(self, timeout: float | None = None, decode: bool | None = None) -> Data:
         # until get() fetches a complete message or times out.
 
         try:
+            if peek and self.frames.empty():
+                return None
+
             deadline = Deadline(timeout)
 
             # First frame
diff --git a/tests/sync/test_connection.py b/tests/sync/test_connection.py
index aa445498c..b2427ec8e 100644
--- a/tests/sync/test_connection.py
+++ b/tests/sync/test_connection.py
@@ -173,6 +173,15 @@ def test_recv_fragmented_binary(self):
         self.remote_connection.send([b"\x01\x02", b"\xfe\xff"])
         self.assertEqual(self.connection.recv(), b"\x01\x02\xfe\xff")
 
+    def test_recv_none_timeout_zero(self):
+        """recv with timeout=0 returns None when there is no message."""
+        self.assertIsNone(self.connection.recv(timeout=0))
+
+    def test_recv_msg_timeout_zero(self):
+        """recv with timeout=0 returns message when there is one."""
+        self.remote_connection.send("😀")
+        self.assertEqual(self.connection.recv(timeout=0), "😀")
+
     def test_recv_connection_closed_ok(self):
         """recv raises ConnectionClosedOK after a normal closure."""
         self.remote_connection.close()