diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 6e5862444..3b4d23ab9 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -46,6 +46,13 @@ eslint:
             - reports
         when: always
 
+potfile_check:
+    image: registry.gitlab.gnome.org/gnome/gnome-shell/extension-ci:v1
+    stage: review
+    script:
+        - ./.gitlab-ci/check-potfiles.sh
+    <<: *only_default
+
 build:
     image: registry.gitlab.gnome.org/gnome/mutter/master:v3
     stage: build
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/check-potfiles.sh b/.gitlab-ci/check-potfiles.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..51cbdd89a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/check-potfiles.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+srcdirs="js src subprojects/extensions-tool"
+globs=('*.js' '*.c')
+
+# find source files that contain gettext keywords
+files=$(grep -lR ${globs[@]/#/--include=} '\(gettext\|[^I_)]_\)(' $srcdirs)
+
+# find those that aren't listed in POTFILES.in
+missing=$(for f in $files; do ! grep -q ^$f po/POTFILES.in && echo $f; done)
+
+if [ ${#missing} -eq 0 ]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+cat >&2 <<EOT
+
+The following files are missing from po/POTFILES.po:
+
+EOT
+for f in $missing; do
+  echo "  $f" >&2
+done
+echo >&2
+
+exit 1