diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Chain.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Chain.scala
index 3131e12066..ba94485b8a 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Chain.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Chain.scala
@@ -46,6 +46,11 @@ sealed abstract class Chain[+A] {
     result
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Returns the head of this Chain if non empty, none otherwise. Amortized O(1).
+   */
+  def headOption: Option[A] = uncons.map(_._1)
+
   /**
    * Returns true if there are no elements in this collection.
    */
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ChainSuite.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ChainSuite.scala
index ae58c3618b..ca7f50970f 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ChainSuite.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ChainSuite.scala
@@ -56,6 +56,12 @@ class ChainSuite extends CatsSuite {
     }
   }
 
+  test("headOption") {
+    forAll { (s: Seq[Int]) =>
+      Chain.fromSeq(s).headOption should ===(s.headOption)
+    }
+  }
+
   test("size is consistent with toList.size") {
     forAll { (ci: Chain[Int]) =>
       ci.size.toInt should ===(ci.toList.size)