diff --git a/lib/cluster.js b/lib/cluster.js
index 84118c36..f9ce4382 100644
--- a/lib/cluster.js
+++ b/lib/cluster.js
@@ -10,20 +10,31 @@
 
 const cluster = require('cluster');
 const Registry = require('./registry');
+const Gauge = require('./gauge');
 const util = require('./util');
 const aggregators = require('./metricAggregators').aggregators;
 
 const GET_METRICS_REQ = 'prom-client:getMetricsReq';
 const GET_METRICS_RES = 'prom-client:getMetricsRes';
+const REG_METRICS_WORKER = 'prom-client:registerMetricsWorker';
 
 let registries = [Registry.globalRegistry];
 let requestCtr = 0; // Concurrency control
 let listenersAdded = false;
+const coordinatedWorkers = new Set();
 const requests = new Map(); // Pending requests for workers' local metrics.
 
 class AggregatorRegistry extends Registry {
-	constructor() {
+	/**
+     Create an AggregatorRegistry instance. Accepts an optional `options` object.
+
+     Options are:
+        coordinated If false (default), request metrics from all cluster workers. If true, request metrics only from workers that have required prom-client.
+	 * @param {object?} options object
+	 */
+	constructor({ coordinated } = {}) {
 		super();
+		this.coordinated = coordinated || false;
 		addListeners();
 	}
 
@@ -32,13 +43,15 @@ class AggregatorRegistry extends Registry {
 	 * returned Promise resolve with the same value; either may be used.
 	 * @param {Function?} callback (err, metrics) => any
 	 * @return {Promise<string>} Promise that resolves with the aggregated
-	 *   metrics.
+	 *	 metrics.
 	 */
 	clusterMetrics(callback) {
 		const requestId = requestCtr++;
 
 		return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
-			const nWorkers = Object.keys(cluster.workers).length;
+			const nWorkers = this.coordinated
+				? coordinatedWorkers.size
+				: Object.keys(cluster.workers).length;
 
 			function done(err, result) {
 				// Don't resolve/reject the promise if a callback is provided
@@ -56,6 +69,7 @@ class AggregatorRegistry extends Registry {
 
 			const request = {
 				responses: [],
+				workerCount: nWorkers,
 				pending: nWorkers,
 				done,
 				errorTimeout: setTimeout(() => {
@@ -71,7 +85,19 @@ class AggregatorRegistry extends Registry {
 				type: GET_METRICS_REQ,
 				requestId
 			};
-			for (const id in cluster.workers) cluster.workers[id].send(message);
+			const workers = this.coordinated
+				? coordinatedWorkers
+				: Object.keys(cluster.workers);
+			for (const id of workers) {
+				const worker = cluster.workers[id];
+				if (worker === undefined || worker.isDead() || !worker.isConnected()) {
+					request.pending--;
+					request.workerCount--;
+					coordinatedWorkers.delete(id); // Set is safe to mutate while iterating
+				} else {
+					worker.send(message);
+				}
+			}
 		});
 	}
 
@@ -81,7 +107,7 @@ class AggregatorRegistry extends Registry {
 	 * the method specified by their `aggregator` property, or by summation if
 	 * `aggregator` is undefined.
 	 * @param {Array} metricsArr Array of metrics, each of which created by
-	 *   `registry.getMetricsAsJSON()`.
+	 *	 `registry.getMetricsAsJSON()`.
 	 * @return {Registry} aggregated registry.
 	 */
 	static aggregate(metricsArr) {
@@ -122,7 +148,7 @@ class AggregatorRegistry extends Registry {
 	 * Sets the registry or registries to be aggregated. Call from workers to
 	 * use a registry/registries other than the default global registry.
 	 * @param {Array<Registry>|Registry} regs Registry or registries to be
-	 *   aggregated.
+	 *	 aggregated.
 	 * @return {void}
 	 */
 	static setRegistries(regs) {
@@ -167,9 +193,19 @@ function addListeners() {
 					if (request.failed) return; // Callback already run with Error.
 
 					const registry = AggregatorRegistry.aggregate(request.responses);
+					const g = new Gauge({
+						name: 'nodejs_prom_client_cluster_workers',
+						help: 'Number of connected cluster workers reporting to prometheus',
+						registers: [registry]
+					});
+					g.set(request.workerCount);
 					const promString = registry.metrics();
 					request.done(null, promString);
 				}
+			} else if (message.type === REG_METRICS_WORKER) {
+				//setup coordinated workers
+				const workerId = message.workerId;
+				coordinatedWorkers.add(workerId);
 			}
 		});
 	}
@@ -186,6 +222,11 @@ if (cluster.isWorker) {
 			});
 		}
 	});
+
+	process.send({
+		type: REG_METRICS_WORKER,
+		workerId: cluster.worker.id
+	});
 }
 
 module.exports = AggregatorRegistry;