diff --git a/equinox/_module.py b/equinox/_module.py
index 69b26d77..d657015c 100644
--- a/equinox/_module.py
+++ b/equinox/_module.py
@@ -201,6 +201,13 @@ def __call__(cls, *args, **kwargs):
             else:
                 setattr(self, field.name, converter(getattr(self, field.name)))
         object.__setattr__(self, "__class__", cls)
+        for kls in cls.__mro__:
+            try:
+                check = kls.__dict__["__check_init__"]
+            except KeyError:
+                pass
+            else:
+                check(self)
         return self
 
 
diff --git a/tests/test_module.py b/tests/test_module.py
index 35c0e725..fc654c1d 100644
--- a/tests/test_module.py
+++ b/tests/test_module.py
@@ -285,3 +285,93 @@ class B(A, foo=True):
         pass
 
     assert called
+
+
+def test_check_init():
+    class FooException(Exception):
+        pass
+
+    called_a = False
+    called_b = False
+
+    class A(eqx.Module):
+        a: int
+
+        def __check_init__(self):
+            nonlocal called_a
+            called_a = True
+            if self.a >= 0:
+                raise FooException
+
+    class B(A):
+        def __check_init__(self):
+            nonlocal called_b
+            called_b = True
+
+    class C(A):
+        pass
+
+    assert not called_a
+    assert not called_b
+    A(-1)
+    assert called_a
+    assert not called_b
+
+    called_a = False
+    with pytest.raises(FooException):
+        A(1)
+    assert called_a
+    assert not called_b
+
+    called_a = False
+    B(-1)
+    assert called_a
+    assert called_b
+
+    called_a = False
+    called_b = False
+    with pytest.raises(FooException):
+        B(1)
+    assert called_a
+    assert called_b  # B.__check_init__ is called before A.__check_init__
+
+    called_a = False
+    called_b = False
+    C(-1)
+    assert called_a
+    assert not called_b
+
+    called_a = False
+    with pytest.raises(FooException):
+        C(1)
+    assert called_a
+    assert not called_b
+
+
+def test_check_init_order():
+    called_a = False
+    called_b = False
+    called_c = False
+
+    class A(eqx.Module):
+        def __check_init__(self):
+            nonlocal called_a
+            called_a = True
+
+    class B(A):
+        def __check_init__(self):
+            nonlocal called_b
+            called_b = True
+            raise ValueError
+
+    class C(B):
+        def __check_init__(self):  # pyright: ignore
+            nonlocal called_c
+            called_c = True
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        C()
+
+    assert called_c
+    assert called_b
+    assert not called_a