diff --git a/include/cppast/cpp_type.hpp b/include/cppast/cpp_type.hpp
index c9bae35..6540d68 100644
--- a/include/cppast/cpp_type.hpp
+++ b/include/cppast/cpp_type.hpp
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ namespace cppast
         friend detail::intrusive_list_node<cpp_type>;
     };
 
+    /// \returns `true` if the given [cppast::cpp_type]() is valid, `false` otherwise.
+    /// Invalid types are, for example, references to references.
+    bool is_valid(const cpp_type& type) noexcept;
+
     /// An unexposed [cppast::cpp_type]().
     ///
     /// This is one where no further information besides a name is available.
diff --git a/src/cpp_type.cpp b/src/cpp_type.cpp
index ee6f603..66c44f2 100644
--- a/src/cpp_type.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp_type.cpp
@@ -4,8 +4,10 @@
 
 #include <cppast/cpp_type.hpp>
 
+#include <cppast/cpp_array_type.hpp>
 #include <cppast/cpp_entity.hpp>
 #include <cppast/cpp_entity_type.hpp>
+#include <cppast/cpp_function_types.hpp>
 
 using namespace cppast;
 
@@ -13,3 +15,96 @@ bool detail::cpp_type_ref_predicate::operator()(const cpp_entity& e)
 {
     return is_type(e.type());
 }
+
+namespace
+{
+    bool can_compose(const cpp_type& type)
+    {
+        return type.kind() != cpp_type_kind::function
+               && type.kind() != cpp_type_kind::member_function
+               && type.kind() != cpp_type_kind::member_object;
+    }
+}
+
+bool cppast::is_valid(const cpp_type& type) noexcept
+{
+    switch (type.kind())
+    {
+    case cpp_type_kind::cv_qualified:
+    {
+        auto& qual = static_cast<const cpp_cv_qualified_type&>(type);
+        if (qual.type().kind() == cpp_type_kind::reference)
+            return false; // not allowed
+        return is_valid(qual.type());
+    }
+    case cpp_type_kind::pointer:
+    {
+        auto& ptr = static_cast<const cpp_pointer_type&>(type);
+        if (ptr.pointee().kind() == cpp_type_kind::reference)
+            return false; // not allowed
+        return is_valid(ptr.pointee());
+    }
+    case cpp_type_kind::reference:
+    {
+        auto& ref = static_cast<const cpp_reference_type&>(type);
+        if (ref.referee().kind() == cpp_type_kind::member_function
+            || ref.referee().kind() == cpp_type_kind::member_object)
+            return false; // not allowed
+        return is_valid(ref.referee());
+    }
+
+    case cpp_type_kind::array:
+    {
+        auto& array = static_cast<const cpp_array_type&>(type);
+        if (array.value_type().kind() == cpp_type_kind::reference
+            || !can_compose(array.value_type()))
+            return false;
+        return is_valid(array.value_type());
+    }
+
+    case cpp_type_kind::function:
+    {
+        auto& func = static_cast<const cpp_function_type&>(type);
+
+        if (!can_compose(func.return_type()) || !is_valid(func.return_type()))
+            return false;
+
+        for (auto& arg : func.argument_types())
+            if (!can_compose(arg) || !is_valid(arg))
+                return false;
+
+        return true;
+    }
+    case cpp_type_kind::member_function:
+    {
+        auto& func = static_cast<const cpp_member_function_type&>(type);
+
+        if (func.class_type().kind() != cpp_type_kind::user_defined)
+            return false;
+        else if (!can_compose(func.return_type()) || !is_valid(func.return_type()))
+            return false;
+
+        for (auto& arg : func.argument_types())
+            if (!can_compose(arg) || !is_valid(arg))
+                return false;
+
+        return true;
+    }
+    case cpp_type_kind::member_object:
+    {
+        auto& obj = static_cast<const cpp_member_object_type&>(type);
+
+        if (obj.class_type().kind() != cpp_type_kind::user_defined)
+            return false;
+        return is_valid(obj.object_type());
+    }
+
+    case cpp_type_kind::builtin:
+    case cpp_type_kind::user_defined:
+    case cpp_type_kind::unexposed:
+        // no further check required/possible
+        break;
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}