diff --git a/cozo-core/src/data/expr.rs b/cozo-core/src/data/expr.rs
index 2e0b4bb8..4700add4 100644
--- a/cozo-core/src/data/expr.rs
+++ b/cozo-core/src/data/expr.rs
@@ -606,6 +606,34 @@ impl Expr {
             }
         })
     }
+    pub(crate) fn get_variables(&self) -> Result<BTreeSet<String>> {
+        let mut ret = BTreeSet::new();
+        self.do_get_variables(&mut ret)?;
+        Ok(ret)
+    }
+    fn do_get_variables(&self, coll: &mut BTreeSet<String>) -> Result<()> {
+        match self {
+            Expr::Binding { var, .. } => {
+                coll.insert(var.to_string());
+            }
+            Expr::Const { .. } => {}
+            Expr::Apply { args, .. } => {
+                for arg in args.iter() {
+                    arg.do_get_variables(coll)?;
+                }
+            }
+            Expr::Cond { clauses, .. } => {
+                for (cond, act) in clauses.iter() {
+                    cond.do_get_variables(coll)?;
+                    act.do_get_variables(coll)?;
+                }
+            }
+            Expr::UnboundApply { op, span, .. } => {
+                bail!(NoImplementationError(*span, op.to_string()));
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
     pub(crate) fn to_var_list(&self) -> Result<Vec<SmartString<LazyCompact>>> {
         match self {
             Expr::Apply { op, args, .. } => {
diff --git a/cozo-core/src/lib.rs b/cozo-core/src/lib.rs
index 55992690..44dbb4e8 100644
--- a/cozo-core/src/lib.rs
+++ b/cozo-core/src/lib.rs
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ pub use crate::runtime::callback::CallbackOp;
 pub use crate::runtime::db::Poison;
 pub use crate::runtime::db::TransactionPayload;
 pub use crate::runtime::db::evaluate_expressions;
+pub use crate::runtime::db::get_variables;
 
 pub(crate) mod data;
 pub(crate) mod fixed_rule;
diff --git a/cozo-core/src/runtime/db.rs b/cozo-core/src/runtime/db.rs
index 064272be..a73cf661 100644
--- a/cozo-core/src/runtime/db.rs
+++ b/cozo-core/src/runtime/db.rs
@@ -1775,6 +1775,17 @@ pub fn evaluate_expressions(
     })
 }
 
+/// Get the variables referenced in a string expression
+pub fn get_variables(src: &str, params: &BTreeMap<String, DataValue>) -> Result<BTreeSet<String>> {
+    _get_variables(src, params).map_err(|err| {
+        if err.source().is_none() {
+            err.with_source_code(format!("{src} "))
+        } else {
+            err
+        }
+    })
+}
+
 fn _evaluate_expressions(
     src: &str,
     params: &BTreeMap<String, DataValue>,
@@ -1795,6 +1806,15 @@ fn _evaluate_expressions(
     Ok(ret)
 }
 
+fn _get_variables(src: &str, params: &BTreeMap<String, DataValue>) -> Result<BTreeSet<String>> {
+    let mut exprs = parse_expressions(src, params)?;
+    let mut ret = BTreeSet::new();
+    for expr in exprs.iter_mut() {
+        ret.extend(expr.get_variables()?);
+    }
+    Ok(ret)
+}
+
 /// Used for user-initiated termination of running queries
 #[derive(Clone, Default)]
 pub struct Poison(pub(crate) Arc<AtomicBool>);
diff --git a/cozo-lib-python/src/lib.rs b/cozo-lib-python/src/lib.rs
index 68d98c37..8e243030 100644
--- a/cozo-lib-python/src/lib.rs
+++ b/cozo-lib-python/src/lib.rs
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
  * You can obtain one at https://mozilla.org/MPL/2.0/.
  */
 
-use std::collections::BTreeMap;
+use std::collections::{BTreeMap, BTreeSet};
 use std::thread;
 
 use miette::{IntoDiagnostic, Report, Result};
@@ -417,10 +417,27 @@ fn eval_expressions(
     }
 }
 
+#[pyfunction]
+fn variables(py: Python<'_>, query: &str, params: &PyDict) -> PyResult<BTreeSet<String>> {
+    let params = convert_params(params).unwrap();
+    match get_variables(query, &params) {
+        Ok(rows) => Ok(rows),
+        Err(err) => {
+            let reports = format_error_as_json(err, Some(query)).to_string();
+            let json_mod = py.import("json")?;
+            let loads_fn = json_mod.getattr("loads")?;
+            let args = PyTuple::new(py, [PyString::new(py, &reports)]);
+            let msg = loads_fn.call1(args)?;
+            Err(PyException::new_err(PyObject::from(msg)))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 #[pymodule]
 fn cozo_embedded(_py: Python<'_>, m: &PyModule) -> PyResult<()> {
     m.add_class::<CozoDbPy>()?;
     m.add_class::<CozoDbMulTx>()?;
     m.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(eval_expressions, m)?)?;
+    m.add_function(wrap_pyfunction!(variables, m)?)?;
     Ok(())
 }