diff --git a/build-aux/Makefile.in b/build-aux/Makefile.in
index 7ee4680847..db44ee36a4 100644
--- a/build-aux/Makefile.in
+++ b/build-aux/Makefile.in
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 top_srcdir = @top_srcdir@
 top_builddir = @top_builddir@
 FLAKE8 = @flake8_path@
+BLACK = @black_path@
 RUNUTF8 = @runutf8@
 PYTHON = @PYTHON3@
 GREP = @GREP@
diff --git a/build-aux/meson.build b/build-aux/meson.build
index f96d46c445..06be6ab6c8 100644
--- a/build-aux/meson.build
+++ b/build-aux/meson.build
@@ -5,6 +5,10 @@ if git and tests_enabled[0]
   if flake8_prog.found()
     flake8_path = flake8_prog.full_path()
   endif
+  black_path = ''
+  if black_prog.found()
+    black_path = black_prog.full_path()
+  endif
 
   if host_machine.system() == 'freebsd' or host_machine.system() == 'darwin'
     make_prog = find_program('gmake')
@@ -35,6 +39,7 @@ if git and tests_enabled[0]
     'top_srcdir': meson.project_source_root(),
     'top_builddir': meson.project_build_root(),
     'flake8_path': flake8_path,
+    'black_path': black_path,
     'runutf8': ' '.join(runutf8),
     'PYTHON3': python3_prog.full_path(),
     'GREP': grep_prog.full_path(),
diff --git a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
index 070737842e..721e82f49a 100644
--- a/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
+++ b/build-aux/syntax-check.mk
@@ -608,6 +608,16 @@ sc_flake8:
 		echo 'skipping test $@: flake8 not installed' 1>&2; \
 	fi
 
+sc_black:
+	if [ -n "$(BLACK)" ]; then \
+		DOT_PY=$$($(VC_LIST_EXCEPT) | $(GREP) '\.py$$'); \
+		BANG_PY=$$($(VC_LIST_EXCEPT) | xargs grep -l '^#!/usr/bin/env python3$$'); \
+		ALL_PY=$$(printf "%s\n%s" "$$DOT_PY" "$$BANG_PY" | sort -u); \
+		echo "$$ALL_PY" | xargs --no-run-if-empty $(BLACK) --check; \
+	else \
+		echo 'skipping test $@: black not installed' 1>&2; \
+	fi
+
 # mymain() in test files should use return, not exit, for nicer output
 sc_prohibit_exit_in_tests:
 	@prohibit='\<exit *\(' \
@@ -1307,6 +1317,11 @@ syntax-check: sc_spacing-check \
 		echo "* flake8 not installed, sc_flake8 has been skipped  *" >&2; \
 		echo "*****************************************************" >&2; \
 	fi
+	if [ -z "$(BLACK)" ]; then \
+		echo "*****************************************************" >&2; \
+		echo "* black not installed, sc_black has been skipped    *" >&2; \
+		echo "*****************************************************" >&2; \
+	fi
 endif
 
 # Don't include duplicate header in the source (either *.c or *.h)
@@ -1486,6 +1501,9 @@ exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_prohibit_select = \
   ^build-aux/syntax-check\.mk|src/util/vireventglibwatch\.c|tests/meson\.build$$
 
 
+exclude_file_name_regexp--sc_black = \
+  ^tools/|src/|tests/|ci/|run\.in|scripts/[^/]*\.py
+
 ## -------------- ##
 ## Implementation ##
 ## -------------- ##
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index dc0969abcc..5b095bb809 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -809,6 +809,7 @@ endforeach
 
 optional_programs = [
   'augparse',
+  'black',
   'dmidecode',
   'ebtables',
   'flake8',