diff --git a/openmc/deplete/chain.py b/openmc/deplete/chain.py
index 1f16d9caf..d2ccf227c 100644
--- a/openmc/deplete/chain.py
+++ b/openmc/deplete/chain.py
@@ -10,9 +10,10 @@ import math
 import re
 from collections import OrderedDict, defaultdict
 from collections.abc import Mapping
+from numbers import Real
 from warnings import warn
 
-from openmc.checkvalue import check_type, check_less_than
+from openmc.checkvalue import check_type, check_less_than, check_greater_than
 from openmc.data import gnd_name, zam
 
 # Try to use lxml if it is available. It preserves the order of attributes and
@@ -613,3 +614,53 @@ class Chain(object):
                 new_ratios[ground_tgt] = ground_br
                 parent.reactions.append(ReactionTuple(
                     "(n,gamma)", ground_tgt, capt_Q, ground_br))
+
+    def validate(self, strict=True, quiet=False, tolerance=1e-4):
+        """Search for possible inconsistencies
+
+        The following checks are performed for all nuclides present:
+
+            1) For all non-fission reactions, do the sum of branching
+               ratios equal about 1?
+            2) For fission reactions, do the sum of fission yield
+               fractions equal about 2?
+
+        Parameters
+        ----------
+        strict : bool, optional
+            Raise exceptions at the first inconsistency if true.
+            Otherwise mark a warning
+        quiet : bool, optional
+            Flag to supress warnings and return immediately at
+            the first inconsistency. Used only if
+            ``strict`` does not evaluate to ``True``.
+        tolerance : float, optional
+            Absolute tolerance for comparisons. Used to compare computed
+            value ``x`` to intended value ``y`` as::
+
+                valid = (y - tolerance <= x <= y + tolerance)
+        Returns
+        -------
+        valid : bool
+            True if no inconsistencies were found
+
+        Raises
+        ------
+        ValueError
+            If ``strict`` evaluates to ``True`` and an inconistency was
+            found
+
+        See Also
+        --------
+        openmc.deplete.Nuclide.validate
+        """
+        check_type("tolerance", tolerance, Real)
+        check_greater_than("tolerance", tolerance, 0.0, True)
+        valid = True
+        # Sort through nuclides by name
+        for name in sorted(self.nuclide_dict):
+            stat = self[name].validate(strict, quiet, tolerance)
+            if quiet and not stat:
+                return stat
+            valid &= stat
+        return valid
diff --git a/openmc/deplete/nuclide.py b/openmc/deplete/nuclide.py
index 9c07a91a9..63503cbfb 100644
--- a/openmc/deplete/nuclide.py
+++ b/openmc/deplete/nuclide.py
@@ -260,6 +260,10 @@ class Nuclide(object):
         ValueError
             If ``strict`` evaluates to ``True`` and an inconistency was
             found
+
+        See Also
+        --------
+        openmc.deplete.Chain.validate
         """
 
         branch_getter = attrgetter("branching_ratio")
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py
index 33b13b596..294e56637 100644
--- a/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_deplete_chain.py
@@ -329,3 +329,55 @@ def test_capture_branch_failures(simple_chain):
     br = {"C": {"A": 1.0, "B": 1.0}}
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="C ratios"):
         simple_chain.set_capture_branches(br)
+
+
+def test_validate(simple_chain):
+    """Test the validate method"""
+
+    # current chain is invalid
+    # fission yields do not sum to 2.0
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Nuclide C.*fission yields"):
+        simple_chain.validate(strict=True, tolerance=0.0)
+
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning) as record:
+        assert not simple_chain.validate(strict=False, quiet=False, tolerance=0.0)
+        assert not simple_chain.validate(strict=False, quiet=True, tolerance=0.0)
+    assert len(record) == 1
+    assert "Nuclide C" in record[0].message.args[0]
+
+    # Fix fission yields but keep to restore later
+    old_yields = simple_chain["C"].yield_data
+    simple_chain["C"].yield_data = {0.0253: [("A", 1.4), ("B", 0.6)]}
+
+    assert simple_chain.validate(strict=True, tolerance=0.0)
+    with pytest.warns(None) as record:
+        assert simple_chain.validate(strict=False, quiet=False, tolerance=0.0)
+    assert len(record) == 0
+
+    # Mess up "earlier" nuclide's reactions
+    decay_mode = simple_chain["A"].decay_modes.pop()
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Nuclide A.*decay mode"):
+        simple_chain.validate(strict=True, tolerance=0.0)
+
+    # restore old fission yields
+    simple_chain["C"].yield_data = old_yields
+
+    with pytest.warns(UserWarning) as record:
+        assert not simple_chain.validate(strict=False, quiet=False, tolerance=0.0)
+    assert len(record) == 2
+    assert "Nuclide A" in record[0].message.args[0]
+    assert "Nuclide C" in record[1].message.args[0]
+
+    # restore decay modes
+    simple_chain["A"].decay_modes.append(decay_mode)
+
+
+def test_validate_inputs():
+    c = Chain()
+
+    with pytest.raises(TypeError, match="tolerance"):
+        c.validate(tolerance=None)
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="tolerance"):
+        c.validate(tolerance=-1)