diff --git a/pyomo/opt/results/__init__.py b/pyomo/opt/results/__init__.py
index 542fcdd7ba0..0d5a66eb363 100644
--- a/pyomo/opt/results/__init__.py
+++ b/pyomo/opt/results/__init__.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@
 #from old_results import *
 from pyomo.opt.results.container import *
 import pyomo.opt.results.problem
-from pyomo.opt.results.solver import SolverStatus, TerminationCondition
+from pyomo.opt.results.solver import SolverStatus, TerminationCondition, \
+    check_optimal_termination, assert_optimal_termination
 from pyomo.opt.results.problem import ProblemSense
 from pyomo.opt.results.solution import SolutionStatus, Solution
 from pyomo.opt.results.results_ import SolverResults
diff --git a/pyomo/opt/results/solver.py b/pyomo/opt/results/solver.py
index 6d5e4fedea4..ae61067f5f8 100644
--- a/pyomo/opt/results/solver.py
+++ b/pyomo/opt/results/solver.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #  This software is distributed under the 3-clause BSD License.
 #  ___________________________________________________________________________
 
-__all__ = ['SolverInformation', 'SolverStatus', 'TerminationCondition']
+__all__ = ['SolverInformation', 'SolverStatus', 'TerminationCondition', 'check_optimal_termination', 'assert_optimal_termination']
 
 from pyutilib.enum import Enum
 from pyomo.opt.results.container import MapContainer, ScalarType
@@ -68,6 +68,44 @@
     )
 
 
+def check_optimal_termination(results):
+    """
+    This function returns True if the termination condition for the solver
+    is 'optimal', 'locallyOptimal', or 'globallyOptimal', and the status is 'ok'
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    results : Pyomo results object returned from solver.solve
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    `bool`
+    """
+    if results.solver.status == SolverStatus.ok and \
+       (results.solver.termination_condition == TerminationCondition.optimal
+        or results.solver.termination_condition == TerminationCondition.locallyOptimal
+        or results.solver.termination_condition == TerminationCondition.globallyOptimal):
+        return True
+    return False
+
+
+def assert_optimal_termination(results):
+    """
+    This function checks if the termination condition for the solver
+    is 'optimal', 'locallyOptimal', or 'globallyOptimal', and the status is 'ok'
+    and it raises a RuntimeError exception if this is not true.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    results : Pyomo results object returned from solver.solve
+    """
+    if not check_optimal_termination(results):
+        msg  = 'Solver failed to return an optimal solution. ' \
+            'Solver status: {}, Termination condition: {}'.format(results.solver.status,
+                                                                  results.solver.termination_condition)
+        raise RuntimeError(msg)
+    
+
 class BranchAndBoundStats(MapContainer):
 
     def __init__(self):
diff --git a/pyomo/opt/tests/base/test_sol.py b/pyomo/opt/tests/base/test_sol.py
index d81221f2816..0f3040cd453 100644
--- a/pyomo/opt/tests/base/test_sol.py
+++ b/pyomo/opt/tests/base/test_sol.py
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@
 import pyomo.opt
 from pyomo.opt import (TerminationCondition,
                        SolutionStatus,
-                       SolverStatus)
+                       SolverStatus,
+                       check_optimal_termination,
+                       assert_optimal_termination)
 
 old_tempdir = pyutilib.services.TempfileManager.tempdir
 
@@ -60,6 +62,11 @@ def test_infeasible1(self):
                              SolutionStatus.infeasible)
             self.assertEqual(soln.solver.status,
                              SolverStatus.warning)
+            
+            self.assertFalse(check_optimal_termination(soln))
+
+            with self.assertRaises(RuntimeError):
+                assert_optimal_termination(soln)
 
     def test_infeasible2(self):
         with pyomo.opt.ReaderFactory("sol") as reader:
@@ -84,6 +91,8 @@ def test_conopt_optimal(self):
                              SolutionStatus.optimal)
             self.assertEqual(soln.solver.status,
                              SolverStatus.ok)
+            self.assertTrue(check_optimal_termination(soln))
+            assert_optimal_termination(soln)
 
     def test_bad_options(self):
         with pyomo.opt.ReaderFactory("sol") as reader: