diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/Bug_report.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/Bug_report.md
index b5fe508ac..ff4fe2c66 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/Bug_report.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/Bug_report.md
@@ -16,6 +16,9 @@ Steps to reproduce the behavior:
 your goreleaser config file
 ```
 
+> Make sure your config file is valid by running
+> `goreleaser check -f path-to-config-file`.
+
 **Expected behavior**
 
 A clear and concise description of what you expected to happen.
diff --git a/main.go b/main.go
index 934c61d8a..83473e985 100644
--- a/main.go
+++ b/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser/internal/static"
 	"github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser/pkg/config"
 	"github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser/pkg/context"
+	"github.com/goreleaser/goreleaser/pkg/defaults"
 	kingpin "gopkg.in/alecthomas/kingpin.v2"
 )
 
@@ -50,9 +51,10 @@ func main() {
 
 	var app = kingpin.New("goreleaser", "Deliver Go binaries as fast and easily as possible")
 	var debug = app.Flag("debug", "Enable debug mode").Bool()
+	var config = app.Flag("config", "Load configuration from file").Short('c').Short('f').PlaceHolder(".goreleaser.yml").String()
 	var initCmd = app.Command("init", "Generates a .goreleaser.yml file").Alias("i")
+	var checkCmd = app.Command("check", "Checks if configuration is valid").Alias("c")
 	var releaseCmd = app.Command("release", "Releases the current project").Alias("r").Default()
-	var config = releaseCmd.Flag("config", "Load configuration from file").Short('c').Short('f').PlaceHolder(".goreleaser.yml").String()
 	var releaseNotes = releaseCmd.Flag("release-notes", "Load custom release notes from a markdown file").PlaceHolder("notes.md").String()
 	var snapshot = releaseCmd.Flag("snapshot", "Generate an unversioned snapshot release, skipping all validations and without publishing any artifacts").Bool()
 	var skipPublish = releaseCmd.Flag("skip-publish", "Skips publishing artifacts").Bool()
@@ -73,13 +75,20 @@ func main() {
 	}
 	switch cmd {
 	case initCmd.FullCommand():
-		var filename = ".goreleaser.yml"
+		var filename = *config
 		if err := initProject(filename); err != nil {
 			log.WithError(err).Error("failed to init project")
 			os.Exit(1)
 			return
 		}
 		log.WithField("file", filename).Info("config created; please edit accordingly to your needs")
+	case checkCmd.FullCommand():
+		if err := checkConfig(*config); err != nil {
+			log.WithError(err).Errorf(color.New(color.Bold).Sprintf("config is invalid"))
+			os.Exit(1)
+			return
+		}
+		log.Infof(color.New(color.Bold).Sprintf("config is valid"))
 	case releaseCmd.FullCommand():
 		start := time.Now()
 		log.Infof(color.New(color.Bold).Sprintf("releasing using goreleaser %s...", version))
@@ -103,6 +112,22 @@ func main() {
 	}
 }
 
+func checkConfig(filename string) error {
+	cfg, err := loadConfig(filename)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	var ctx = context.New(cfg)
+	return ctrlc.Default.Run(ctx, func() error {
+		for _, pipe := range defaults.Defaulters {
+			if err := middleware.ErrHandler(pipe.Default)(ctx); err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		}
+		return nil
+	})
+}
+
 func releaseProject(options releaseOptions) error {
 	cfg, err := loadConfig(options.Config)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/main_test.go b/main_test.go
index 56d3cbeba..eeca07790 100644
--- a/main_test.go
+++ b/main_test.go
@@ -25,6 +25,20 @@ func TestReleaseProject(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.NoError(t, releaseProject(testParams()))
 }
 
+func TestCheckConfig(t *testing.T) {
+	_, back := setup(t)
+	defer back()
+	assert.NoError(t, checkConfig(testParams().Config))
+}
+
+func TestCheckConfigFails(t *testing.T) {
+	_, back := setup(t)
+	defer back()
+	var filename = "fail.yaml"
+	assert.NoError(t, ioutil.WriteFile(filename, []byte("nope: 1"), 0644))
+	assert.Error(t, checkConfig(filename))
+}
+
 func TestReleaseProjectSkipPublish(t *testing.T) {
 	_, back := setup(t)
 	defer back()
diff --git a/www/content/deprecations.md b/www/content/deprecations.md
index 943690ecd..f75bdab44 100644
--- a/www/content/deprecations.md
+++ b/www/content/deprecations.md
@@ -9,6 +9,12 @@ This page will be used to list deprecation notices across GoReleaser.
 
 Deprecate code will be removed after ~6 months from the time it was deprecated.
 
+You can check your use of deprecated configurations by running:
+
+```sh
+$ goreleaser check
+```
+
 ## Active deprecation notices
 
 <!--