diff --git a/centipede/engine_worker.cc b/centipede/engine_worker.cc
index 19886f86..3c57f1ae 100644
--- a/centipede/engine_worker.cc
+++ b/centipede/engine_worker.cc
@@ -695,9 +695,9 @@ const char* FuzzTestWorkerGetTestName() {
   return test_name;
 }
 
-FuzzTestWorkerStatus WorkerMaybeRun(const FuzzTestAdapterManager& manager) {
+FuzzTestWorkerStatus WorkerRun(const FuzzTestAdapterManager& manager) {
   const auto& flags = GetWorkerFlags();
-  if (!flags.present) return kFuzzTestWorkerNotRequired;
+  WorkerCheck(flags.present, "worker flags must present");
 
   if (HasWorkerSwitchFlag("dump_configuration")) {
     return kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess;
@@ -786,11 +786,26 @@ FuzzTestWorkerStatus WorkerMaybeRun(const FuzzTestAdapterManager& manager) {
 
 }  // namespace fuzztest::internal
 
+namespace {
+
+using ::fuzztest::internal::GetWorkerFlags;
 using ::fuzztest::internal::WorkerCheck;
-using ::fuzztest::internal::WorkerMaybeRun;
+using ::fuzztest::internal::WorkerRun;
+
+}  // namespace
+
+FuzzTestWorkerStatus FuzzTestWorkerIsRequired() {
+  const auto& flags = GetWorkerFlags();
+  if (!flags.present) return kFuzzTestWorkerNotRequired;
+  return kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess;
+}
 
 FuzzTestWorkerStatus FuzzTestWorkerMaybeRun(
     const FuzzTestAdapterManager* manager) {
   WorkerCheck(manager != nullptr, "manager must not be nullptr");
-  return WorkerMaybeRun(*manager);
+  if (FuzzTestWorkerStatus s = FuzzTestWorkerIsRequired();
+      s != kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess) {
+    return s;
+  }
+  return WorkerRun(*manager);
 }
diff --git a/centipede/engine_worker_abi.h b/centipede/engine_worker_abi.h
index e4357424..23943726 100644
--- a/centipede/engine_worker_abi.h
+++ b/centipede/engine_worker_abi.h
@@ -29,12 +29,24 @@ extern "C" {
 #endif
 
 typedef enum {
-  kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess = 0,  // Test should finish with a success
-  kFuzzTestWorkerFailure,      // Test should finish with a failure.
-  kFuzzTestWorkerNotRequired,  // Test should continue with controller commands.
+  kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess = 0,
+  kFuzzTestWorkerFailure,
+  kFuzzTestWorkerNotRequired,
 } FuzzTestWorkerStatus;
 
-// Try to run as a FuzzTest worker with `manager` if needed.
+// Queries if the worker is required without performing any work. It can be
+// called without context of a test. Returns `kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess` if the
+// worker is required to run in the tests, `kFuzzTestWorkerFailure` if it
+// encounter a failure, or `kFuzzTestWorkerNotRequired` if the worker is not
+// required.
+FuzzTestWorkerStatus FuzzTestWorkerIsRequired();
+
+// Tries to run as a FuzzTest engine worker with the test adapter `manager` if
+// required (by calling `FuzzTestWorkerIsRequired()`). Should be run exactly
+// once per test. Returns `kFuzzTestWorkerSuccess` if the worker succeeded for
+// the test (and the test shall succeed), `kFuzzTestWorkerFailure` if it
+// encountered a failure (and the test shall fail), or
+// `kFuzzTestWorkerNotRequired` if the worker is not required.
 FuzzTestWorkerStatus FuzzTestWorkerMaybeRun(
     const FuzzTestAdapterManager* manager);