diff --git a/deepprofiler/__main__.py b/deepprofiler/__main__.py
index 70ef5b6..d87a12d 100644
--- a/deepprofiler/__main__.py
+++ b/deepprofiler/__main__.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import deepprofiler.dataset.sampling
 import deepprofiler.learning.training
 import deepprofiler.learning.profiling
+import deepprofiler.dataset.helper
 import deepprofiler.download.normalize_bbbc021_metadata
 
 
@@ -193,5 +194,22 @@ def split(context, parts):
     deepprofiler.dataset.indexing.split_index(context.obj["config"], parts)
 
 
+# Auxiliary tool: check if images and locations are complete to run profiling functions
+@cli.command()
+@click.pass_context
+def check_profile(context):
+    dset = deepprofiler.dataset.image_dataset.read_dataset(context.obj["config"], mode='profile')
+    deepprofiler.dataset.helper.check_profile(dset)
+    print("checking for profile complete.")
+
+
+# Auxiliary tool: check if crops are complete. Use this before running training
+@cli.command()
+@click.pass_context
+def check_train(context):
+    dset = deepprofiler.dataset.image_dataset.read_dataset(context.obj["config"], mode='train')
+    deepprofiler.dataset.helper.check_train(context.obj["config"], dset)
+    print("checking for train is complete.")
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     cli(obj={})
diff --git a/deepprofiler/dataset/helper.py b/deepprofiler/dataset/helper.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..95b6953
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deepprofiler/dataset/helper.py
@@ -0,0 +1,143 @@
+"""
+Helper functions for checking images, locations and crops before running profile and train.
+"""
+
+import pandas as pd
+import numpy as np
+import cv2
+import os
+import tensorflow as tf
+
+import deepprofiler.imaging.boxes
+import plugins.crop_generators.sampled_crop_generator
+
+
+def check_profile(dset):
+    """Checks images and location files to prepare for the profiling function.
+    If this function runs correctly, the function 'profile' will also run without errors.
+    The names of the missing files are saved in two different files.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    dset : Data structure with metadata and location files
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ls_imgs : list of missing images
+    ls_locs : list of missing location files
+
+    """
+    ls_imgs, ls_locs = [], []
+    os.makedirs("checks", exist_ok=True)
+
+    # start checking image files
+    frame = dset.meta.data.iterrows()
+    images = [dset.get_image_paths(r) for i, r in frame]
+
+    for channels in images:
+        for img in channels[1]:
+            if not os.path.isfile(img):
+                ls_imgs.append(img)
+    print(
+        ">>> found {} missing images".format(len(ls_imgs)),
+        "|| saving list of missing files to checks/missing_images.csv",
+    )
+    pd.DataFrame(ls_imgs, columns=["missing_images"]).to_csv(
+        "checks/missing_images.csv", index=False
+    )
+
+    # start checking location files
+    frame = dset.meta.data.iterrows()
+    for i, r in frame:
+        df = deepprofiler.imaging.boxes.get_single_cell_locations(
+            "{}/{}-{}".format(
+                r["Metadata_Plate"], r["Metadata_Well"], r["Metadata_Site"]
+            ),
+            dset.config,
+        )
+        if df.empty:
+            ls_locs.append(
+                "{}/{}-{}".format(
+                    r["Metadata_Plate"], r["Metadata_Well"], r["Metadata_Site"]
+                )
+            )
+
+    print(
+        ">>> found {} missing location files".format(len(ls_locs)),
+        "|| saving list of missing files to checks/missing_locs.csv",
+    )
+    pd.DataFrame(ls_locs, columns=["missing_locs"]).to_csv(
+        "checks/missing_locs.csv", index=False
+    )
+
+    return ls_imgs, ls_locs
+
+
+def crop_checks(img_name, ls_missing, ls_zero):
+    """Utility function for check_train to check images for existence and non-zero values.
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    img_name : crop image name
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ls_missing, ls_zero : lists detailing the missing crops and the zero crops
+
+    """
+    if not os.path.isfile(img_name):
+        ls_missing.append(img_name)
+    else:
+        img = cv2.imread(img_name, cv2.IMREAD_GRAYSCALE)
+        pos = np.nonzero(img)
+        if len(pos[0]) == 0:
+            ls_zero.append(img_name)
+
+
+def check_train(config, dset):
+    """Checks if the data is ready for training by checking if the crops are sampled correctly.
+    Missing and zero crops are saved into two files.
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    config : config input
+    dset : Data structure with metadata
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    ls_missing, ls_zero : lists of missing and zero crops
+
+    """
+    os.makedirs("checks", exist_ok=True)
+
+    crop_generator = plugins.crop_generators.sampled_crop_generator.GeneratorClass(
+        config, dset
+    )
+    sess = tf.compat.v1.Session()
+    crop_generator.start(sess)
+    df = crop_generator.samples
+
+    ls_missing, ls_zero = [], []
+    res = df.apply(
+        lambda row: crop_checks(
+            os.path.join(config["paths"]["single_cell_sample"], row["Image_Name"]),
+            ls_missing,
+            ls_zero,
+        ),
+        axis=1,
+    )
+
+    print(
+        ">>> found {} missing crops".format(len(ls_missing)),
+        "|| saving list of missing crops to checks/missing_crops.csv",
+    )
+    pd.DataFrame(ls_missing, columns=["missing_crops"]).to_csv(
+        "checks/missing_crops.csv", index=False
+    )
+    print(
+        ">>> found {} crops with zero values".format(len(ls_zero)),
+        "|| saving list of zero crops to checks/missing_crops.csv",
+    )
+    pd.DataFrame(ls_zero, columns=["zero_crops"]).to_csv(
+        "checks/zero_crops.csv", index=False
+    )
+
+    return ls_missing, ls_zero