diff --git a/fsck.c b/fsck.c
index 41208a4..e6e8dc4 100644
--- a/fsck.c
+++ b/fsck.c
@@ -131,6 +131,14 @@
 		die("Unknown fsck message type: '%s'", str);
 }
 
+int is_valid_msg_type(const char *msg_id, const char *msg_type)
+{
+	if (parse_msg_id(msg_id) < 0)
+		return 0;
+	parse_msg_type(msg_type);
+	return 1;
+}
+
 void fsck_set_msg_type(struct fsck_options *options,
 		const char *msg_id, const char *msg_type)
 {