diff --git a/.docs/hotreload.md b/.docs/hotreload.md
index e2d4cb3..0144e5d 100644
--- a/.docs/hotreload.md
+++ b/.docs/hotreload.md
@@ -13,6 +13,10 @@ This is useful for development, as it allows you to make changes to your cogs an
 
 ## Commands
 
+### hotreload compile
+
+Determines if the cog should try to compile a modified Python file before reloading the associated cog. Useful for catching syntax errors. Disabled by default.
+
 ### hotreload notifychannel
 
 Set the channel where hotreload will send notifications when a cog is reloaded.
diff --git a/hotreload/hotreload.py b/hotreload/hotreload.py
index 9357fcd..ee223f2 100644
--- a/hotreload/hotreload.py
+++ b/hotreload/hotreload.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
+import py_compile
 from asyncio import run_coroutine_threadsafe
 from pathlib import Path
+from tempfile import NamedTemporaryFile
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, List, Sequence, Tuple
 
 from red_commons.logging import RedTraceLogger, getLogger
@@ -19,7 +21,7 @@ class HotReload(commands.Cog):
 
     __author__ = ["[cswimr](https://www.coastalcommits.com/cswimr)"]
     __git__ = "https://www.coastalcommits.com/cswimr/SeaCogs"
-    __version__ = "1.3.3"
+    __version__ = "1.4.0"
     __documentation__ = "https://seacogs.coastalcommits.com/hotreload/"
 
     def __init__(self, bot: Red) -> None:
@@ -28,7 +30,7 @@ class HotReload(commands.Cog):
         self.config = Config.get_conf(self, identifier=294518358420750336, force_registration=True)
         self.logger: RedTraceLogger = getLogger(name="red.SeaCogs.HotReload")
         self.observers: List[ObserverType] = []
-        self.config.register_global(notify_channel=None)
+        self.config.register_global(notify_channel=None, compile_before_reload=False)
         watchdog_loggers = [getLogger(name="watchdog.observers.inotify_buffer")]
         for watchdog_logger in watchdog_loggers:
             watchdog_logger.setLevel("INFO")  # SHUT UP!!!!
@@ -94,6 +96,12 @@ class HotReload(commands.Cog):
         await self.config.notify_channel.set(channel.id)
         await ctx.send(f"Notifications will be sent to {channel.mention}.")
 
+    @hotreload_group.command(name="compile")
+    async def hotreload_compile(self, ctx: commands.Context, compile_before_reload: bool) -> None:
+        """Set whether to compile modified files before reloading."""
+        await self.config.compile_before_reload.set(compile_before_reload)
+        await ctx.send(f"I {'will' if compile_before_reload else 'will not'} compile modified files before hotreloading cogs.")
+
     @hotreload_group.command(name="list")
     async def hotreload_list(self, ctx: commands.Context) -> None:
         """List the currently active observers."""
@@ -136,10 +144,19 @@ class HotReloadHandler(RegexMatchingEventHandler):
 
         self.logger.info("File %s has been %s%s.", event.src_path, event.event_type, dest)
 
-        run_coroutine_threadsafe(self.reload_cogs(cogs_to_reload), loop=self.cog.bot.loop)
+        run_coroutine_threadsafe(
+            coro=self.reload_cogs(
+                cog_names=cogs_to_reload,
+                paths=[Path(p) for p in (event.src_path, getattr(event, "dest_path", None)) if p],
+            ),
+            loop=self.cog.bot.loop,
+        )
+
+    async def reload_cogs(self, cog_names: Sequence[str], paths: Sequence[Path]) -> None:
+        """Reload modified cogs."""
+        if not self.compile_modified_files(cog_names, paths):
+            return
 
-    async def reload_cogs(self, cog_names: Sequence[str]) -> None:
-        """Reload modified cog."""
         core_logic = CoreLogic(bot=self.cog.bot)
         self.logger.info("Reloading cogs: %s", humanize_list(cog_names, style="unit"))
         await core_logic._reload(pkg_names=cog_names)  # noqa: SLF001 # We have to use this private method because there is no public API to reload other cogs
@@ -148,3 +165,24 @@ class HotReloadHandler(RegexMatchingEventHandler):
         channel = self.cog.bot.get_channel(await self.cog.config.notify_channel())
         if channel:
             await channel.send(f"Reloaded cogs: {humanize_list(cog_names, style='unit')}")
+
+    def compile_modified_files(self, cog_names: Sequence[str], paths: Sequence[Path]) -> bool:
+        """Compile modified files to ensure they are valid Python files."""
+        for path in paths:
+            if not path.exists() or path.suffix != ".py":
+                self.logger.debug("Path %s does not exist or does not point to a Python file. Skipping compilation step.", path)
+                continue
+
+            try:
+                with NamedTemporaryFile() as temp_file:
+                    self.logger.debug("Attempting to compile %s", path)
+                    py_compile.compile(file=path, cfile=temp_file.name, doraise=True)
+                    self.logger.debug("Successfully compiled %s", path)
+
+            except py_compile.PyCompileError as e:
+                e.__suppress_context__ = True
+                self.logger.exception("%s failed to compile. Not reloading cogs %s.", path, humanize_list(cog_names, style="unit"))
+                return False
+            except OSError:
+                self.logger.exception("Failed to create tempfile for compilation step. Skipping.")
+        return True