diff --git a/android/play-store/review-access.md b/android/play-store/review-access.md
index c0cbc68..e311ca0 100644
--- a/android/play-store/review-access.md
+++ b/android/play-store/review-access.md
@@ -46,8 +46,18 @@ access field:
   second factor, one-time code, developer browser session, or location gate.
 
 After both dedicated accounts have registered, confirmed their email, and set
-their fixed passwords through the production UI, an operator can create the
-stable synthetic records from the production checkout:
+their fixed passwords through the production UI, first run the read-only
+readiness check from the production checkout:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/prepare-play-review.sh \
+  REVIEWER_EMAIL COUNTERPART_EMAIL \
+  --check-only whoneedhelp.com \
+  /srv/who_need_help-production/.env
+```
+
+Only after that check succeeds should an operator create the stable synthetic
+records:
 
 ```bash
 ./scripts/prepare-play-review.sh \
diff --git a/lib/who_need_help/release.ex b/lib/who_need_help/release.ex
index 141b8d2..2eda430 100644
--- a/lib/who_need_help/release.ex
+++ b/lib/who_need_help/release.ex
@@ -65,6 +65,32 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelp.Release do
   @play_review_request_title "Play review — medicine pickup"
   @play_review_activity_title "Play review — public cinema meetup"
 
+  @doc """
+  Checks whether two existing ordinary accounts can be used for Google Play
+  review without creating or changing any records.
+  """
+  def play_review_readiness(reviewer_email, counterpart_email)
+      when is_binary(reviewer_email) and is_binary(counterpart_email) do
+    load_app()
+
+    with {:ok, reviewer} <- play_review_user(reviewer_email, :reviewer),
+         {:ok, counterpart} <- play_review_user(counterpart_email, :counterpart),
+         :ok <- different_play_review_users(reviewer, counterpart),
+         {:ok, medicine_category} <- active_category("medicine-pickup", :help),
+         {:ok, cinema_category} <- active_category("cinema-meetup", :activity) do
+      {:ok,
+       %{
+         reviewer: reviewer,
+         counterpart: counterpart,
+         medicine_category: medicine_category,
+         cinema_category: cinema_category
+       }}
+    end
+  end
+
+  def play_review_readiness(_reviewer_email, _counterpart_email),
+    do: {:error, :invalid_email}
+
   @doc """
   Prepares stable, synthetic records for Google Play review using two existing
   ordinary accounts.
@@ -75,13 +101,13 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelp.Release do
   """
   def prepare_play_review(reviewer_email, counterpart_email)
       when is_binary(reviewer_email) and is_binary(counterpart_email) do
-    load_app()
-
-    with {:ok, reviewer} <- play_review_user(reviewer_email, :reviewer),
-         {:ok, counterpart} <- play_review_user(counterpart_email, :counterpart),
-         :ok <- different_play_review_users(reviewer, counterpart),
-         {:ok, medicine_category} <- active_category("medicine-pickup", :help),
-         {:ok, cinema_category} <- active_category("cinema-meetup", :activity),
+    with {:ok,
+          %{
+            reviewer: reviewer,
+            counterpart: counterpart,
+            medicine_category: medicine_category,
+            cinema_category: cinema_category
+          }} <- play_review_readiness(reviewer_email, counterpart_email),
          {:ok, request} <-
            ensure_play_review_request(reviewer, counterpart, medicine_category),
          {:ok, activity} <-
diff --git a/scripts/prepare-play-review.sh b/scripts/prepare-play-review.sh
index b41924a..7f72dbe 100755
--- a/scripts/prepare-play-review.sh
+++ b/scripts/prepare-play-review.sh
@@ -6,14 +6,18 @@ EXPECTED_ROOT=/srv/who_need_help-production
 EXPECTED_PROJECT=who_need_help_production
 EXPECTED_ORIGIN=https://whoneedhelp.com
 
-if [ "$#" -ne 5 ] || [ "$3" != "--confirm" ] || [ "$4" != "whoneedhelp.com" ]; then
-  echo "Usage: $0 REVIEWER_EMAIL COUNTERPART_EMAIL --confirm whoneedhelp.com ENV_FILE" >&2
+if [ "$#" -ne 5 ] ||
+  { [ "$3" != "--check-only" ] && [ "$3" != "--confirm" ]; } ||
+  [ "$4" != "whoneedhelp.com" ]; then
+  echo "Usage: $0 REVIEWER_EMAIL COUNTERPART_EMAIL --check-only whoneedhelp.com ENV_FILE" >&2
+  echo "       $0 REVIEWER_EMAIL COUNTERPART_EMAIL --confirm whoneedhelp.com ENV_FILE" >&2
   echo "Both existing accounts must be active, confirmed, password-enabled, and non-staff." >&2
   exit 1
 fi
 
 REVIEWER_EMAIL=$1
 COUNTERPART_EMAIL=$2
+ACTION=$3
 ENV_FILE=$5
 
 if [ "$(realpath --canonicalize-existing "$ROOT")" != "$EXPECTED_ROOT" ]; then
@@ -95,6 +99,11 @@ encode() {
 
 reviewer=$(encode "$REVIEWER_EMAIL")
 counterpart=$(encode "$COUNTERPART_EMAIL")
-expression="case WhoNeedHelp.Release.prepare_play_review(Base.decode64!(\"$reviewer\"), Base.decode64!(\"$counterpart\")) do {:ok, result} -> IO.inspect(result); {:error, reason} -> raise \"Play review preparation failed: #{inspect(reason)}\" end"
+
+if [ "$ACTION" = "--check-only" ]; then
+  expression="case WhoNeedHelp.Release.play_review_readiness(Base.decode64!(\"$reviewer\"), Base.decode64!(\"$counterpart\")) do {:ok, result} -> IO.inspect(%{reviewer_id: result.reviewer.id, counterpart_id: result.counterpart.id, medicine_category_id: result.medicine_category.id, cinema_category_id: result.cinema_category.id}, label: :play_review_ready); {:error, reason} -> raise \"Play review readiness failed: #{inspect(reason)}\" end"
+else
+  expression="case WhoNeedHelp.Release.prepare_play_review(Base.decode64!(\"$reviewer\"), Base.decode64!(\"$counterpart\")) do {:ok, result} -> IO.inspect(result); {:error, reason} -> raise \"Play review preparation failed: #{inspect(reason)}\" end"
+fi
 
 docker exec "$container" /app/bin/who_need_help rpc "$expression"
diff --git a/test/who_need_help/release_test.exs b/test/who_need_help/release_test.exs
index d27830d..2ac776c 100644
--- a/test/who_need_help/release_test.exs
+++ b/test/who_need_help/release_test.exs
@@ -20,6 +20,22 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelp.ReleaseTest do
     %{reviewer: reviewer, counterpart: counterpart}
   end
 
+  test "checks reviewer readiness without creating review records", %{
+    reviewer: reviewer,
+    counterpart: counterpart
+  } do
+    before_counts = review_record_counts()
+
+    assert {:ok, readiness} =
+             Release.play_review_readiness(reviewer.email, counterpart.email)
+
+    assert readiness.reviewer.id == reviewer.id
+    assert readiness.counterpart.id == counterpart.id
+    assert readiness.medicine_category.slug == "medicine-pickup"
+    assert readiness.cinema_category.slug == "cinema-meetup"
+    assert review_record_counts() == before_counts
+  end
+
   test "prepares stable non-staff reviewer records idempotently", %{
     reviewer: reviewer,
     counterpart: counterpart
@@ -90,4 +106,13 @@ defmodule WhoNeedHelp.ReleaseTest do
     assert {:error, {:reviewer, :staff_account_forbidden}} =
              Release.prepare_play_review(staff.email, counterpart.email)
   end
+
+  defp review_record_counts do
+    %{
+      requests: Repo.aggregate(HelpRequest, :count),
+      assignments: Repo.aggregate(Assignment, :count),
+      activities: Repo.aggregate(Activity, :count),
+      participants: Repo.aggregate(Participant, :count)
+    }
+  end
 end