diff --git a/.gitlab-ci.yml b/.gitlab-ci.yml
index 3b4d23ab9..c7f925cc0 100644
--- a/.gitlab-ci.yml
+++ b/.gitlab-ci.yml
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ potfile_check:
         - ./.gitlab-ci/check-potfiles.sh
     <<: *only_default
 
+no_template_check:
+    image: registry.gitlab.gnome.org/gnome/gnome-shell/extension-ci:v1
+    stage: review
+    script:
+        - ./.gitlab-ci/check-template-strings.sh
+    <<: *only_default
+
 build:
     image: registry.gitlab.gnome.org/gnome/mutter/master:v3
     stage: build
diff --git a/.gitlab-ci/check-template-strings.sh b/.gitlab-ci/check-template-strings.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..efa8afc1f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitlab-ci/check-template-strings.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+
+# find files from POTFILES.in that use js template strings
+baddies=$(grep -l '${' $(grep ^js po/POTFILES.in))
+
+if [ ${#baddies} -eq 0 ]; then
+  exit 0
+fi
+
+cat >&2 <<EOT
+
+xgettext cannot handle template strings properly, so we ban their use
+in files with translatable strings.
+
+The following files are listed in po/POTFILES.in and use template strings:
+
+EOT
+for f in $baddies; do
+  echo "  $f" >&2
+done
+echo >&2
+
+exit 1