diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index fc02f552..319f9783 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -44,6 +44,9 @@ dep_threads = dependency('threads')
 
 cc = meson.get_compiler('c')
 
+symbols_check = find_program('symbols-check.py')
+prog_nm = find_program('nm')
+
 # Check for atomics
 intel_atomics = false
 lib_atomics = false
diff --git a/symbols-check.py b/symbols-check.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e7ba68d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/symbols-check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,130 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import platform
+import subprocess
+
+# This list contains symbols that _might_ be exported for some platforms
+PLATFORM_SYMBOLS = [
+    '__bss_end__',
+    '__bss_start__',
+    '__bss_start',
+    '__end__',
+    '_bss_end__',
+    '_edata',
+    '_end',
+    '_fini',
+    '_init',
+]
+
+
+def get_symbols(nm, lib):
+    '''
+    List all the (non platform-specific) symbols exported by the library
+    '''
+    symbols = []
+    platform_name = platform.system()
+    output = subprocess.check_output([nm, '-gP', lib],
+                                     stderr=open(os.devnull, 'w')).decode("ascii")
+    for line in output.splitlines():
+        fields = line.split()
+        if len(fields) == 2 or fields[1] == 'U':
+            continue
+        symbol_name = fields[0]
+        if platform_name == 'Linux':
+            if symbol_name in PLATFORM_SYMBOLS:
+                continue
+        elif platform_name == 'Darwin':
+            assert symbol_name[0] == '_'
+            symbol_name = symbol_name[1:]
+        symbols.append(symbol_name)
+
+    return symbols
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument('--symbols-file',
+                        action='store',
+                        required=True,
+                        help='path to file containing symbols')
+    parser.add_argument('--lib',
+                        action='store',
+                        required=True,
+                        help='path to library')
+    parser.add_argument('--nm',
+                        action='store',
+                        required=True,
+                        help='path to binary (or name in $PATH)')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    try:
+        lib_symbols = get_symbols(args.nm, args.lib)
+    except:
+        # We can't run this test, but we haven't technically failed it either
+        # Return the GNU "skip" error code
+        exit(77)
+    mandatory_symbols = []
+    optional_symbols = []
+    with open(args.symbols_file) as symbols_file:
+        qualifier_optional = '(optional)'
+        for line in symbols_file.readlines():
+
+            # Strip comments
+            line = line.split('#')[0]
+            line = line.strip()
+            if not line:
+                continue
+
+            # Line format:
+            # [qualifier] symbol
+            qualifier = None
+            symbol = None
+
+            fields = line.split()
+            if len(fields) == 1:
+                symbol = fields[0]
+            elif len(fields) == 2:
+                qualifier = fields[0]
+                symbol = fields[1]
+            else:
+                print(args.symbols_file + ': invalid format: ' + line)
+                exit(1)
+
+            # The only supported qualifier is 'optional', which means the
+            # symbol doesn't have to be exported by the library
+            if qualifier and not qualifier == qualifier_optional:
+                print(args.symbols_file + ': invalid qualifier: ' + qualifier)
+                exit(1)
+
+            if qualifier == qualifier_optional:
+                optional_symbols.append(symbol)
+            else:
+                mandatory_symbols.append(symbol)
+
+    unknown_symbols = []
+    for symbol in lib_symbols:
+        if symbol in mandatory_symbols:
+            continue
+        if symbol in optional_symbols:
+            continue
+        unknown_symbols.append(symbol)
+
+    missing_symbols = [
+        sym for sym in mandatory_symbols if sym not in lib_symbols
+    ]
+
+    for symbol in unknown_symbols:
+        print(args.lib + ': unknown symbol exported: ' + symbol)
+
+    for symbol in missing_symbols:
+        print(args.lib + ': missing symbol: ' + symbol)
+
+    if unknown_symbols or missing_symbols:
+        exit(1)
+    exit(0)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()