diff --git a/src/overmap.cpp b/src/overmap.cpp
index 17ca4440dc8dd..f7fd871db187c 100644
--- a/src/overmap.cpp
+++ b/src/overmap.cpp
@@ -2988,6 +2988,21 @@ bool overmap::check_ot_subtype( const std::string &otype, int x, int y, int z )
     return is_ot_subtype( otype.c_str(), oter );
 }
 
+bool overmap::check_overmap_special_type( const overmap_special_id &id, int x, int y, int z ) const
+{
+    // Try and find the special associated with this location.
+    const tripoint location( x, y, z );
+    auto found_id = overmap_special_placements.find( location );
+
+    // There was no special here, so bail.
+    if( found_id == overmap_special_placements.end() ) {
+        return false;
+    }
+
+    // Return whether the found special was a match with our requested id.
+    return found_id->second == id;
+}
+
 void overmap::good_river( int x, int y, int z )
 {
     if( !is_ot_type( "river", get_ter( x, y, z ) ) ) {
diff --git a/src/overmap.h b/src/overmap.h
index 2226cb3b244ae..8431dd1c01f22 100644
--- a/src/overmap.h
+++ b/src/overmap.h
@@ -351,6 +351,7 @@ class overmap
         // Polishing
         bool check_ot_type( const std::string &otype, int x, int y, int z ) const;
         bool check_ot_subtype( const std::string &otype, int x, int y, int z ) const;
+        bool check_overmap_special_type( const overmap_special_id &id, int x, int y, int z ) const;
         void chip_rock( int x, int y, int z );
 
         void polish_river();