diff --git a/meshmode/mesh/__init__.py b/meshmode/mesh/__init__.py
index b6e4d6894c09a850d0d1d721f5a1e0ac2c59b6ed..4e72cb90fac569bc943f09a11218770d3c1196e4 100644
--- a/meshmode/mesh/__init__.py
+++ b/meshmode/mesh/__init__.py
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ __doc__ = """
 
 .. autofunction:: as_python
 .. autofunction:: check_bc_coverage
+.. autofunction:: is_boundary_tag_empty
 
 Predefined Boundary tags
 ------------------------
@@ -983,4 +984,32 @@ def check_bc_coverage(mesh, boundary_tags, incomplete_ok=False):
 
 # }}}
 
+
+# {{{ is_boundary_tag_empty
+
+def is_boundary_tag_empty(mesh, btag):
+    """Return *True* if the corresponding boundary tag does not occur as part of
+    *mesh*.
+    """
+
+    btag_index = mesh.btag_to_index.get(btag, None)
+    if btag_index is None:
+        return True
+
+    btag_bit = 1 << btag_index
+
+    for igrp in range(len(mesh.groups)):
+        bdry_fagrp = mesh.facial_adjacency_groups[igrp].get(None, None)
+        if bdry_fagrp is None:
+            continue
+
+        neg = bdry_fagrp.neighbors < 0
+        if (-bdry_fagrp.neighbors[neg] & btag_bit).any():
+            return False
+
+    return True
+
+# }}}
+
+
 # vim: foldmethod=marker