diff --git a/src/record.xsl b/src/record.xsl
index fd89ecd..c8e7735 100644
--- a/src/record.xsl
+++ b/src/record.xsl
@@ -517,6 +517,18 @@
   @subsection Type Predicates
 -->
 
+
+<!--
+  Determine whether the given @var{item} is a record.
+-->
+<function name="R:is-record" as="xs:boolean">
+  <param name="item" as="item()" />
+
+  <sequence select="$item instance of element()
+                      and exists( $item/_R:types )" />
+</function>
+
+
 <!--
   Predicate to determine whether @var{record} or any of its supertypes is of
     type @var{type}.
diff --git a/test/record.xspec b/test/record.xspec
index fd3a8b8..a53ba27 100644
--- a/test/record.xspec
+++ b/test/record.xspec
@@ -281,6 +281,41 @@
   </scenario>
 
 
+  <scenario label="R:is-record">
+    <scenario label="given a record">
+      <call function="R:is-record">
+        <param name="Record"
+               select="R:make-record-header( 0 )" />
+      </call>
+
+      <expect label="returns true()"
+              test="$x:result = true()" />
+    </scenario>
+
+
+    <scenario label="given a non-record element">
+      <call function="R:is-record">
+        <param name="Record"
+               select="n:element( QName( '', 'foo' ) )" />
+      </call>
+
+      <expect label="returns false()"
+              test="$x:result = false()" />
+    </scenario>
+
+
+    <scenario label="given a non-record atomic">
+      <call function="R:is-record">
+        <param name="Record"
+               select="5" />
+      </call>
+
+      <expect label="returns false()"
+              test="$x:result = false()" />
+    </scenario>
+  </scenario>
+
+
   <scenario label="R:is-compatible">
     <scenario label="with super- and sub-types of same slot count">
       <call function="R:is-compatible">