diff --git a/mode/tal.py b/mode/tal.py
index 32b4b0f..51777d0 100644
--- a/mode/tal.py
+++ b/mode/tal.py
@@ -73,18 +73,26 @@ class Talasm(Method):
     bname = '*Talasm*'
     def run_pipe(self, w, args, switch, mname=None):
         return w.application.run_pipe(args, w.buffer, self.bname, switch, mname)
-    def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+    def get_dest(self, w):
         path = w.buffer.path
         if path.endswith('.tal'):
-            dest = path[:-4] + '.rom'
+            return path[:-4] + '.rom'
         else:
             raise Exception('invalid path: %s' % path)
+    def _execute(self, w, **vargs):
+        path = w.buffer.path
+        dest = self.get_dest(w)
         args = ['uxnasm', path, dest]
         r = self.run_pipe(w, args, lambda x: x != 0, 'error')
         b = w.application.get_buffer_by_name(self.bname)
         b.orig_path = w.buffer.path
         if r == 0: w.set_error(b.lines[-2])
 
+class TalCheck(Talasm):
+    '''Check the syntax of the current .tal file'''
+    def get_dest(self, w):
+        return '/dev/null'
+
 class Taldoc(Method):
     '''View documentation'''
     ops = {
@@ -237,7 +245,7 @@ class Tal(Fundamental):
     name       = 'tal'
     extensions = ['.tal']
     grammar    = TalGrammar
-    actions = [Taldoc, Talasm]
+    actions = [Taldoc, Talasm, TalCheck]
     colors     = {
         'tal.addr':        hi_cyan,
         'tal.defmacro':    hi_blue,
@@ -256,7 +264,8 @@ class Tal(Fundamental):
     closetokens = ('delimiter',)
     closetags   = {')': '(', ']': '[', '}': '{'}
     _bindings = {
-        'talasm': ('C-c c', 'C-c C-c'),
+        'talasm': ('C-c c', 'C-c C-c',),
+        'tal-check': ('C-c s',),
         'taldoc': ('C-c p',),
         'close-paren':   (')',),
         'close-brace':   ('}',),