Test MAPI Connection (Definitive Description)

(Isn't this fun? Type MAPI and SQL into Google and it almost tilts!)

Here is the situation:
1- When SQL Agent starts, it establishes a MAPI session. For some bizarre design reason, it keeps that session open as long as it is running, rather than re-opening the session when it has mail to send. (this can be days, weeks, or months)
2- Frequently, Exchange servers are clustered. When the virtual server moves to a different physical server in the cluster, - or the Exchange server is restarted for whatever reason - the (above) MAPI session of the SQL Agent gets jammed.
3- SQL Agent tries, and fails to send an E-mail saying (for instance) that a database dump has completed (etc.)
4- User posts a question to some forum, asking for help again.

My solution: I created a job to run on a daily basis to restart the SQL Agent, and re-establish the MAPI session. Voila!

The problem: Now we (sometimes) get the message:
[241] Startup error: Unable to initialize error reporting system (reason: The EventLog service has not been started)
This is incorrect - the service was never stopped!

*sigh* No hits in Microsoft or Google - Back to the drawing board.

SO: Can anyone think of a way to *test* the MAPI connection in a job step (without actually sending a message), so that the agent restart job is only executed if the MAPI connection is failing?