diff --git a/lib/pleroma/user.ex b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
index 463bb9ad4..c91fbb68a 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/user.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/user.ex
@@ -1410,4 +1410,8 @@ defmodule Pleroma.User do
   end
 
   defp put_password_hash(changeset), do: changeset
+
+  def is_internal_user?(%User{nickname: nil}), do: true
+  def is_internal_user?(%User{local: true, nickname: "internal." <> _}), do: true
+  def is_internal_user?(_), do: false
 end
diff --git a/test/user_test.exs b/test/user_test.exs
index 264b7a40e..908f72a0e 100644
--- a/test/user_test.exs
+++ b/test/user_test.exs
@@ -1310,4 +1310,21 @@ defmodule Pleroma.UserTest do
       assert following == 0
     end
   end
+
+  describe "is_internal_user?/1" do
+    test "non-internal user returns false" do
+      user = insert(:user)
+      refute User.is_internal_user?(user)
+    end
+
+    test "user with no nickname returns true" do
+      user = insert(:user, %{nickname: nil})
+      assert User.is_internal_user?(user)
+    end
+
+    test "user with internal-prefixed nickname returns true" do
+      user = insert(:user, %{nickname: "internal.test"})
+      assert User.is_internal_user?(user)
+    end
+  end
 end