diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
index 25f3bba70a..a527c6c809 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/audit.rb
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ require "date"
 require "missing_formula"
 require "digest"
 require "cli/parser"
+require 'json'
 
 module Homebrew
   module_function
@@ -341,6 +342,14 @@ module Homebrew
       openssl@1.1
     ].freeze
 
+    def audit_licenses
+      path = File.join(File.dirname(__FILE__),"spdx.json")
+      file = File.open(File.expand_path(path))
+      valid_licenses = JSON.load(file)
+      return if valid_licenses.key?(formula.license)
+      problem "#{formula.license} is not an SPDX license."
+      end
+
     def audit_deps
       @specs.each do |spec|
         # Check for things we don't like to depend on.
diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/spdx.json b/Library/Homebrew/dev-cmd/spdx.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..e69de29bb2