diff --git a/trame_server/state.py b/trame_server/state.py
index eb82ac0..7ddf7ef 100644
--- a/trame_server/state.py
+++ b/trame_server/state.py
@@ -128,6 +128,10 @@ def __setattr__(self, key, value):
         else:
             self.__setitem__(key, value)
 
+    def __contains__(self, key):
+        key = self._translator.translate_key(key)
+        return key in self._pending_update or key in self._pushed_state
+
     def client_only(self, *_args):
         """
         Tag a given set of variable name(s) to be client only.