diff --git a/numexpr/__init__.py b/numexpr/__init__.py
index 9cabe69..7946f85 100644
--- a/numexpr/__init__.py
+++ b/numexpr/__init__.py
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@
 import os, os.path
 import platform
 from numexpr.expressions import E
-from numexpr.necompiler import NumExpr, disassemble, evaluate, re_evaluate
+from numexpr.necompiler import (NumExpr, disassemble, evaluate, re_evaluate, 
+    validate)
 
 from numexpr.utils import (_init_num_threads,
     get_vml_version, set_vml_accuracy_mode, set_vml_num_threads,
diff --git a/numexpr/tests/test_numexpr.py b/numexpr/tests/test_numexpr.py
index 32f5be4..ccb0b6c 100644
--- a/numexpr/tests/test_numexpr.py
+++ b/numexpr/tests/test_numexpr.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 from numpy import shape, allclose, array_equal, ravel, isnan, isinf
 
 import numexpr
-from numexpr import E, NumExpr, evaluate, re_evaluate, disassemble, use_vml
+from numexpr import E, NumExpr, evaluate, re_evaluate, validate, disassemble, use_vml
 from numexpr.expressions import ConstantNode
 
 import unittest
@@ -370,10 +370,38 @@ def test_re_evaluate(self):
         assert_array_equal(x, array([86., 124., 168.]))
 
     def test_re_evaluate_dict(self):
+        a1 = array([1., 2., 3.])
+        b1 = array([4., 5., 6.])
+        c1 = array([7., 8., 9.])
+        x = evaluate("2*a + 3*b*c", local_dict={'a': a1, 'b': b1, 'c': c1})
+        x = re_evaluate()
+        assert_array_equal(x, array([86., 124., 168.]))
+
+    def test_validate(self):
         a = array([1., 2., 3.])
         b = array([4., 5., 6.])
         c = array([7., 8., 9.])
-        x = evaluate("2*a + 3*b*c", local_dict={'a': a, 'b': b, 'c': c})
+        retval = validate("2*a + 3*b*c")
+        assert(retval is None)
+        x = re_evaluate()
+        assert_array_equal(x, array([86., 124., 168.]))
+
+    def test_validate_missing_var(self):
+        a = array([1., 2., 3.])
+        b = array([4., 5., 6.])
+        retval = validate("2*a + 3*b*c")
+        assert(isinstance(retval, KeyError))
+
+    def test_validate_syntax(self):
+        retval = validate("2+")
+        assert(isinstance(retval, SyntaxError))
+
+    def test_validate_dict(self):
+        a1 = array([1., 2., 3.])
+        b1 = array([4., 5., 6.])
+        c1 = array([7., 8., 9.])
+        retval = validate("2*a + 3*b*c", local_dict={'a': a1, 'b': b1, 'c': c1})
+        assert(retval is None)
         x = re_evaluate()
         assert_array_equal(x, array([86., 124., 168.]))