diff --git a/base/loading.jl b/base/loading.jl
index b26a063247169..87ce12588aa6b 100644
--- a/base/loading.jl
+++ b/base/loading.jl
@@ -4166,17 +4166,19 @@ end
 compiler_chi(tup::Tuple) = CacheHeaderIncludes(expand_compiler_path(tup))
 
 """
-    precompile(f, argtypes::Tuple{Vararg{Any}})
+    precompile(f, argtypes::Tuple{Vararg{Any}}; check_only::Bool=false)
 
 Compile the given function `f` for the argument tuple (of types) `argtypes`, but do not execute it.
+If `check_only` is `true`, do not compile `f`; check whether `f` should be compileable for `argtypes`
+and return `true` or `false` accordingly.
 """
-function precompile(@nospecialize(f), @nospecialize(argtypes::Tuple))
-    precompile(Tuple{Core.Typeof(f), argtypes...})
+function precompile(@nospecialize(f), @nospecialize(argtypes::Tuple); check_only::Bool=false)
+    precompile(Tuple{Core.Typeof(f), argtypes...}; check_only)
 end
 
 const ENABLE_PRECOMPILE_WARNINGS = Ref(false)
-function precompile(@nospecialize(argt::Type))
-    ret = ccall(:jl_compile_hint, Int32, (Any,), argt) != 0
+function precompile(@nospecialize(argt::Type); check_only::Bool=false)
+    ret = ccall(:jl_compile_hint, Int32, (Any, Cint), argt, check_only) != 0
     if !ret && ENABLE_PRECOMPILE_WARNINGS[]
         @warn "Inactive precompile statement" maxlog=100 form=argt _module=nothing _file=nothing _line=0
     end
diff --git a/src/gf.c b/src/gf.c
index 5b21dfa7e1143..b339c249961ad 100644
--- a/src/gf.c
+++ b/src/gf.c
@@ -3365,7 +3365,7 @@ JL_DLLEXPORT void jl_compile_method_sig(jl_method_t *m, jl_value_t *types, jl_sv
     jl_compile_method_instance(mi, NULL, world);
 }
 
-JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_compile_hint(jl_tupletype_t *types)
+JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_compile_hint(jl_tupletype_t *types, int check_only)
 {
     size_t world = jl_atomic_load_acquire(&jl_world_counter);
     size_t min_valid = 0;
@@ -3373,8 +3373,10 @@ JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_compile_hint(jl_tupletype_t *types)
     jl_method_instance_t *mi = jl_get_compile_hint_specialization(types, world, &min_valid, &max_valid, 1);
     if (mi == NULL)
         return 0;
-    JL_GC_PROMISE_ROOTED(mi);
-    jl_compile_method_instance(mi, types, world);
+    if (!check_only) {
+        JL_GC_PROMISE_ROOTED(mi);
+        jl_compile_method_instance(mi, types, world);
+    }
     return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/julia_internal.h b/src/julia_internal.h
index fd8720b7f1701..8dc1e4a11fa9e 100644
--- a/src/julia_internal.h
+++ b/src/julia_internal.h
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ JL_DLLEXPORT const char *jl_debuginfo_name(jl_value_t *func) JL_NOTSAFEPOINT;
 JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_is_compiled_codeinst(jl_code_instance_t *codeinst) JL_NOTSAFEPOINT;
 JL_DLLEXPORT void jl_compile_method_instance(jl_method_instance_t *mi, jl_tupletype_t *types, size_t world);
 JL_DLLEXPORT void jl_compile_method_sig(jl_method_t *m, jl_value_t *types, jl_svec_t *sparams, size_t world);
-JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_compile_hint(jl_tupletype_t *types);
+JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_compile_hint(jl_tupletype_t *types, int check_only);
 JL_DLLEXPORT int jl_add_entrypoint(jl_tupletype_t *types);
 jl_code_info_t *jl_code_for_interpreter(jl_method_instance_t *lam JL_PROPAGATES_ROOT, size_t world);
 jl_value_t *jl_code_or_ci_for_interpreter(jl_method_instance_t *lam JL_PROPAGATES_ROOT, size_t world);
diff --git a/src/precompile.c b/src/precompile.c
index c21cf5367fba6..bcb1f8d1cf518 100644
--- a/src/precompile.c
+++ b/src/precompile.c
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ JL_DLLEXPORT void jl_write_compiler_output(void)
                 jl_value_t *tt = jl_is_type(f) ? (jl_value_t*)jl_wrap_Type(f) : jl_typeof(f);
                 JL_GC_PUSH1(&tt);
                 tt = jl_apply_tuple_type_v(&tt, 1);
-                jl_compile_hint((jl_tupletype_t*)tt);
+                jl_compile_hint((jl_tupletype_t*)tt, 0);
                 if (jl_options.trim)
                     jl_add_entrypoint((jl_tupletype_t*)tt);
                 JL_GC_POP();
diff --git a/src/precompile_utils.c b/src/precompile_utils.c
index 84619b714b624..5378786931fca 100644
--- a/src/precompile_utils.c
+++ b/src/precompile_utils.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ static int _compile_all_tvar_union(jl_value_t *methsig)
         if (sig) {
             roots[0] = sig;
             if (jl_is_datatype(sig) && jl_has_concrete_subtype(sig))
-                all = all && jl_compile_hint((jl_tupletype_t*)sig);
+                all = all && jl_compile_hint((jl_tupletype_t*)sig, 0);
             else
                 all = 0;
         }