diff --git a/gemd/entity/bounds_validation.py b/gemd/entity/bounds_validation.py
index 3b8c039..9a58412 100644
--- a/gemd/entity/bounds_validation.py
+++ b/gemd/entity/bounds_validation.py
@@ -1,7 +1,11 @@
 from enum import IntEnum
 from contextlib import contextmanager
+from logging import getLogger
 
-__all__ = ["WarningLevel", "get_validation_level", "set_validation_level", "validation_level"]
+__all__ = ["WarningLevel", "get_validation_level", "set_validation_level",
+           "validation_level", "raise_or_warn"]
+
+logger = getLogger(__name__)
 
 
 class WarningLevel(IntEnum):
@@ -43,3 +47,25 @@ def validation_level(level: WarningLevel):
 
     # Restore previous value
     BOUNDS_VALIDATION = old_value
+
+
+def raise_or_warn(message, *, exc_class=ValueError, **kwargs):
+    """Raise, warn, or ignore based on the current validation level.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    message: str
+        The error/warning message.
+    exc_class: type
+        Exception class to raise when level is FATAL.
+    **kwargs:
+        Additional keyword arguments passed to the exception constructor.
+
+    """
+    level = get_validation_level()
+    if level == WarningLevel.IGNORE:
+        return
+    if level == WarningLevel.WARNING:
+        logger.warning(message)
+    else:
+        raise exc_class(message, **kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/entity/test_bounds_validation.py b/tests/entity/test_bounds_validation.py
index 28f2665..fdf515e 100644
--- a/tests/entity/test_bounds_validation.py
+++ b/tests/entity/test_bounds_validation.py
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
+import logging
+
+import pytest
+
 from gemd.entity.bounds_validation import WarningLevel, set_validation_level, \
-    get_validation_level, validation_level
+    get_validation_level, validation_level, raise_or_warn
 
 
 def test_bounds_validation():
@@ -9,3 +13,24 @@ def test_bounds_validation():
         set_validation_level(WarningLevel.WARNING)
         assert get_validation_level() == WarningLevel.WARNING, "Setter worked."
     assert get_validation_level() == old_level, "Original level restored."
+
+
+def test_raise_or_warn_ignore():
+    """Verify raise_or_warn does nothing at IGNORE level."""
+    with validation_level(WarningLevel.IGNORE):
+        raise_or_warn("should be ignored")  # no exception, no warning
+
+
+def test_raise_or_warn_warning(caplog):
+    """Verify raise_or_warn logs at WARNING level."""
+    with validation_level(WarningLevel.WARNING):
+        with caplog.at_level(logging.WARNING):
+            raise_or_warn("check this")
+    assert "check this" in caplog.text
+
+
+def test_raise_or_warn_fatal():
+    """Verify raise_or_warn raises at FATAL level."""
+    with validation_level(WarningLevel.FATAL):
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="boom"):
+            raise_or_warn("boom")