diff --git a/os_traits/__init__.py b/os_traits/__init__.py
index 84cd2eb..6b03c26 100644
--- a/os_traits/__init__.py
+++ b/os_traits/__init__.py
@@ -62,3 +62,18 @@ def get_traits(prefix=None):
         v not in excluded_values and
         (prefix is None or v.startswith(prefix))
     ]
+
+
+def check_traits(traits):
+    """
+    Returns a tuple of two trait string sets, the first set contains valid
+    traits, and the second contains others.
+
+    :param traits: An iterable contains trait strings.
+    """
+    trait_set = set(traits)
+    valid_trait_set = set(get_traits())
+
+    valid_traits = trait_set & valid_trait_set
+
+    return (valid_traits, trait_set - valid_traits)
diff --git a/os_traits/tests/test_os_traits.py b/os_traits/tests/test_os_traits.py
index bfdab83..4d08e7d 100644
--- a/os_traits/tests/test_os_traits.py
+++ b/os_traits/tests/test_os_traits.py
@@ -43,3 +43,13 @@ class TestOs_traits(base.TestCase):
         traits = ot.get_traits(ot.NAMESPACES['x86'])
         self.assertIn("hw:cpu:x86:sse42", traits)
         self.assertEqual(35, len(traits))
+
+    def test_check_traits(self):
+        traits = set(["hw:cpu:x86:sse42", "hw:cpu:x86:xop"])
+        not_traits = set(["not_trait1", "not_trait2"])
+
+        check_traits = []
+        check_traits.extend(traits)
+        check_traits.extend(not_traits)
+        self.assertEqual((traits, not_traits),
+                         ot.check_traits(check_traits))