diff --git a/mercurial/util.py b/mercurial/util.py
--- a/mercurial/util.py
+++ b/mercurial/util.py
@@ -2615,6 +2615,12 @@
         r = None
     return author[author.find('<') + 1:r]
 
+_correctauthorformat = re.compile('^[^<]+\s\<[^<>]+@[^<>]+\>$')
+def isauthorwellformed(author):
+    '''Return True if the author field is well formed
+    (ie "Contributor Name <contrib@email.dom>")'''
+    return bool(_correctauthorformat.match(author))
+
 def ellipsis(text, maxlength=400):
     """Trim string to at most maxlength (default: 400) columns in display."""
     return encoding.trim(text, maxlength, ellipsis='...')