diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 6dcdd8c85..61c6391a7 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -2,3 +2,4 @@
 
 ### Improvements
 * Enhanced human-readability of the return message from `check_experimenter_form`. [PR #254](https://github.com/NeurodataWithoutBorders/nwbinspector/pull/254)
+* Add check for existence of ``IntracellularElectrode.cell_id`` (#256)
diff --git a/nwbinspector/__init__.py b/nwbinspector/__init__.py
index d8a1c8d26..a3eb0e290 100644
--- a/nwbinspector/__init__.py
+++ b/nwbinspector/__init__.py
@@ -12,3 +12,4 @@
 from .checks.ophys import *
 from .checks.tables import *
 from .checks.time_series import *
+from .checks.icephys import *
diff --git a/nwbinspector/checks/icephys.py b/nwbinspector/checks/icephys.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0358e6530
--- /dev/null
+++ b/nwbinspector/checks/icephys.py
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+from pynwb.icephys import IntracellularElectrode
+
+from ..register_checks import register_check, Importance, InspectorMessage
+
+
+@register_check(importance=Importance.BEST_PRACTICE_VIOLATION, neurodata_type=IntracellularElectrode)
+def check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists(intracellular_electrode: IntracellularElectrode):
+    """Check if the IntracellularElectrode contains a cell_id."""
+    if intracellular_electrode.cell_id is None:
+        return InspectorMessage(message="Please include a unique cell_id associated with this IntracellularElectrode.")
diff --git a/tests/unit_tests/test_icephys.py b/tests/unit_tests/test_icephys.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..59e4ee6fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_tests/test_icephys.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+from pynwb.icephys import IntracellularElectrode
+from pynwb.device import Device
+
+from nwbinspector import InspectorMessage, Importance, check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists
+
+
+def test_pass_check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists():
+    device = Device(name="device")
+    ielec = IntracellularElectrode(name="ielec", cell_id="123", device=device, description="an intracellular electrode")
+    assert check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists(ielec) is None
+
+
+def test_fail_check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists():
+    device = Device(name="device")
+    ielec = IntracellularElectrode(name="ielec", device=device, description="an intracellular electrode")
+    assert check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists(ielec) == InspectorMessage(
+        message="Please include a unique cell_id associated with this IntracellularElectrode.",
+        importance=Importance.BEST_PRACTICE_VIOLATION,
+        check_function_name="check_intracellular_electrode_cell_id_exists",
+        object_type="IntracellularElectrode",
+        object_name="ielec",
+        location="/",
+    )