diff --git a/ccd_defs_check.py b/ccd_defs_check.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..acb6f7eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ccd_defs_check.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python
+import sys
+import os
+import json
+
+BIN_PATH_ABS = os.path.abspath(os.path.dirname(os.path.abspath(__file__)))
+
+def get_ccd_widths():
+	"""Return the CCD Width of the camera listed in the JSON defs file."""
+	with open(BIN_PATH_ABS + '/ccd_defs.json') as jsonFile:
+		return json.load(jsonFile)
+
+try:
+	ccd_defs = get_ccd_widths()
+	print "CCD_DEFS compiles OK"
+	print "Definitions in file: {0}".format(len(ccd_defs))
+except IOError as e:
+	print "I/O error with CCD_DEFS file: {0}".format(e.strerror)
+except:
+	print "Error with CCD_DEFS file: {0}".format(sys.exc_info()[1])