diff --git a/core/app/controllers/spree/base_controller.rb b/core/app/controllers/spree/base_controller.rb
index 4cfbe50cd57..a323340a5b5 100644
--- a/core/app/controllers/spree/base_controller.rb
+++ b/core/app/controllers/spree/base_controller.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ class Spree::BaseController < ApplicationController
   include Spree::Core::ControllerHelpers::StrongParameters
   include Spree::Core::ControllerHelpers::Locale
   include Spree::Core::ControllerHelpers::Currency
+  include Spree::Core::ControllerHelpers::GemChecking
 
   respond_to :html
 end
diff --git a/core/lib/spree/core.rb b/core/lib/spree/core.rb
index 31a04ed58bf..2252140fca6 100644
--- a/core/lib/spree/core.rb
+++ b/core/lib/spree/core.rb
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ class DestroyWithOrdersError < StandardError; end
 require 'spree/core/controller_helpers/strong_parameters'
 require 'spree/core/controller_helpers/locale'
 require 'spree/core/controller_helpers/currency'
+require 'spree/core/controller_helpers/gem_checking'
 
 require 'spree/core/preferences/store'
 require 'spree/core/preferences/scoped_store'
diff --git a/core/lib/spree/core/controller_helpers/gem_checking.rb b/core/lib/spree/core/controller_helpers/gem_checking.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c6cf1c134c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/lib/spree/core/controller_helpers/gem_checking.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+module Spree
+  module Core
+    module ControllerHelpers
+      module GemChecking
+        extend ActiveSupport::Concern
+
+        def backend_available?
+          @backend_available ||= Gem::Specification.find_all_by_name('spree_backend').any?
+        end
+
+        def frontend_available?
+          @frontend_available ||= Gem::Specification.find_all_by_name('spree_frontend').any?
+        end
+
+        def api_available?
+          @api_available ||= Gem::Specification.find_all_by_name('spree_api').any?
+        end
+
+        def emails_available?
+          @emails_available ||= Gem::Specification.find_all_by_name('spree_emails').any?
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+end
+