diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2c96959..5fdd8ea 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -66,7 +66,13 @@ All inputs are **optional**. If not set, sensible defaults will be used.
 
 ### Action outputs
 
-The pull request number and URL are available as step outputs.
+The following outputs can be used by subsequent workflow steps.
+
+- `pull-request-number` - The pull request number.
+- `pull-request-url` - The URL of the pull request.
+- `pull-request-operation` - The pull request operation performed by the action, `created`, `updated` or `closed`.
+
+Step outputs can be accessed as in the following example.
 Note that in order to read the step outputs the action step must have an id.
 
 ```yml
diff --git a/dist/index.js b/dist/index.js
index 8bc520a..0e053ae 100644
--- a/dist/index.js
+++ b/dist/index.js
@@ -391,7 +391,20 @@ function createPullRequest(inputs) {
             inputs.base = result.base;
             if (result.hasDiffWithBase) {
                 // Create or update the pull request
-                yield githubHelper.createOrUpdatePullRequest(inputs, baseRemote.repository, branchRepository);
+                const pull = yield githubHelper.createOrUpdatePullRequest(inputs, baseRemote.repository, branchRepository);
+                // Set outputs
+                core.startGroup('Setting outputs');
+                core.setOutput('pull-request-number', pull.number);
+                core.setOutput('pull-request-url', pull.html_url);
+                if (pull.created) {
+                    core.setOutput('pull-request-operation', 'created');
+                }
+                else if (result.action == 'updated') {
+                    core.setOutput('pull-request-operation', 'updated');
+                }
+                // Deprecated
+                core.exportVariable('PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER', pull.number);
+                core.endGroup();
             }
             else {
                 // There is no longer a diff with the base
@@ -406,6 +419,10 @@ function createPullRequest(inputs) {
                             branchRemoteName,
                             `refs/heads/${inputs.branch}`
                         ]);
+                        // Set outputs
+                        core.startGroup('Setting outputs');
+                        core.setOutput('pull-request-operation', 'closed');
+                        core.endGroup();
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -919,7 +936,8 @@ class GitHubHelper {
                 core.info(`Created pull request #${pull.number} (${headBranch} => ${inputs.base})`);
                 return {
                     number: pull.number,
-                    html_url: pull.html_url
+                    html_url: pull.html_url,
+                    created: true
                 };
             }
             catch (e) {
@@ -937,7 +955,8 @@ class GitHubHelper {
             core.info(`Updated pull request #${pull.number} (${headBranch} => ${inputs.base})`);
             return {
                 number: pull.number,
-                html_url: pull.html_url
+                html_url: pull.html_url,
+                created: false
             };
         });
     }
@@ -956,13 +975,6 @@ class GitHubHelper {
             const headBranch = `${headOwner}:${inputs.branch}`;
             // Create or update the pull request
             const pull = yield this.createOrUpdate(inputs, baseRepository, headBranch);
-            // Set outputs
-            core.startGroup('Setting outputs');
-            core.setOutput('pull-request-number', pull.number);
-            core.setOutput('pull-request-url', pull.html_url);
-            // Deprecated
-            core.exportVariable('PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER', pull.number);
-            core.endGroup();
             // Set milestone, labels and assignees
             const updateIssueParams = {};
             if (inputs.milestone) {
@@ -1003,6 +1015,7 @@ class GitHubHelper {
                     }
                 }
             }
+            return pull;
         });
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/create-pull-request.ts b/src/create-pull-request.ts
index 5691b05..dc52b19 100644
--- a/src/create-pull-request.ts
+++ b/src/create-pull-request.ts
@@ -195,11 +195,24 @@ export async function createPullRequest(inputs: Inputs): Promise<void> {
 
     if (result.hasDiffWithBase) {
       // Create or update the pull request
-      await githubHelper.createOrUpdatePullRequest(
+      const pull = await githubHelper.createOrUpdatePullRequest(
         inputs,
         baseRemote.repository,
         branchRepository
       )
+
+      // Set outputs
+      core.startGroup('Setting outputs')
+      core.setOutput('pull-request-number', pull.number)
+      core.setOutput('pull-request-url', pull.html_url)
+      if (pull.created) {
+        core.setOutput('pull-request-operation', 'created')
+      } else if (result.action == 'updated') {
+        core.setOutput('pull-request-operation', 'updated')
+      }
+      // Deprecated
+      core.exportVariable('PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER', pull.number)
+      core.endGroup()
     } else {
       // There is no longer a diff with the base
       // Check we are in a state where a branch exists
@@ -215,6 +228,10 @@ export async function createPullRequest(inputs: Inputs): Promise<void> {
             branchRemoteName,
             `refs/heads/${inputs.branch}`
           ])
+          // Set outputs
+          core.startGroup('Setting outputs')
+          core.setOutput('pull-request-operation', 'closed')
+          core.endGroup()
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/github-helper.ts b/src/github-helper.ts
index db8e015..364be61 100644
--- a/src/github-helper.ts
+++ b/src/github-helper.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ interface Repository {
 interface Pull {
   number: number
   html_url: string
+  created: boolean
 }
 
 export class GitHubHelper {
@@ -55,7 +56,8 @@ export class GitHubHelper {
       )
       return {
         number: pull.number,
-        html_url: pull.html_url
+        html_url: pull.html_url,
+        created: true
       }
     } catch (e) {
       if (
@@ -87,7 +89,8 @@ export class GitHubHelper {
     )
     return {
       number: pull.number,
-      html_url: pull.html_url
+      html_url: pull.html_url,
+      created: false
     }
   }
 
@@ -107,21 +110,13 @@ export class GitHubHelper {
     inputs: Inputs,
     baseRepository: string,
     headRepository: string
-  ): Promise<void> {
+  ): Promise<Pull> {
     const [headOwner] = headRepository.split('/')
     const headBranch = `${headOwner}:${inputs.branch}`
 
     // Create or update the pull request
     const pull = await this.createOrUpdate(inputs, baseRepository, headBranch)
 
-    // Set outputs
-    core.startGroup('Setting outputs')
-    core.setOutput('pull-request-number', pull.number)
-    core.setOutput('pull-request-url', pull.html_url)
-    // Deprecated
-    core.exportVariable('PULL_REQUEST_NUMBER', pull.number)
-    core.endGroup()
-
     // Set milestone, labels and assignees
     const updateIssueParams = {}
     if (inputs.milestone) {
@@ -169,5 +164,7 @@ export class GitHubHelper {
         }
       }
     }
+
+    return pull
   }
 }