diff --git a/collects/xml/plist.ss b/collects/xml/plist.ss
index 1f286f0a0d..d7b7d27b20 100644
--- a/collects/xml/plist.ss
+++ b/collects/xml/plist.ss
@@ -15,6 +15,29 @@
    ;  an array : (list 'array value ...)
    ; (we're ignoring data & date)
 
+   (define (plist-dict? v)
+     (and (list? v)
+          (pair? v)
+          (eq? (car v) 'dict)
+          (andmap (lambda (v)
+                    (and (list? v)
+                         (= 3 (length v))
+                         (eq? (car v) 'assoc-pair)
+                         (string? (cadr v))
+                         (let pl-value? ([v (caddr v)])
+                           (or (string? v)
+                               (and (pair? v)
+                                    (case (car v)
+                                      [(true) (null? (cdr v))]
+                                      [(false) (null? (cdr v))]
+                                      [(integer) (and (= (length v) 2)
+                                                      (exact-integer? (cadr v)))]
+                                      [(real) (and (= (length v) 2)
+                                                   (real? (cadr v)))]
+                                      [(array) (andmap pl-value? (cdr v))]
+                                      [else (plist-dict? v)]))))))
+                  (cdr v))))
+
 
    ; raise-plist-exn : string mark-set xexpr symbol -> ???
    (define (raise-plist-exn tag mark-set xexpr type)
@@ -191,5 +214,5 @@
 
    ;; END OF TEST
 
-  (provide read-plist)
-  (provide/contract [write-plist (xexpr/c output-port? . -> . void?)]))
+  (provide plist-dict? read-plist)
+  (provide/contract [write-plist (plist-dict? output-port? . -> . void?)]))
diff --git a/collects/xml/xml.scrbl b/collects/xml/xml.scrbl
index 4420be8888..cb7a123ff0 100644
--- a/collects/xml/xml.scrbl
+++ b/collects/xml/xml.scrbl
@@ -359,9 +359,8 @@ used to store dictionaries of string--value associations.  This format
 is used by Mac OS X (both the operating system and its applications)
 to store all kinds of data.
 
-A @deftech{dictionary X-expression} is an @tech{X-expression} that
-could be create by an expression matching the following
-@scheme[_dict-expr] grammar:
+A @deftech{plist dictionary} is a value that could be created by an
+expression matching the following @scheme[_dict-expr] grammar:
 
 @schemegrammar*[
 #:literals (list)
@@ -376,16 +375,18 @@ could be create by an expression matching the following
           (list 'array pl-value ...)]
 ]
 
-@defproc[(read-plist [in input-port?]) xexpr/c]{
+@defproc[(plist-dict? [any/c v]) boolean?]{
 
-Reads a plist from a port, and produces a @tech{dictionary
-X-expression}.}
+Returns @scheme[#t] if @scheme[v] is a @tech{plist dictionary},
+@scheme[#f] otherwise.}
 
-@defproc[(write-plist [dict xexpr/c] [out output-port?]) void?]{
+@defproc[(read-plist [in input-port?]) plist-dict?]{
 
-Write a plist to the given port. If @scheme[dict] is not a
-@tech{dictionary X-expression}, the @scheme[exn:fail:contract]
-exception is raised.}
+Reads a plist from a port, and produces a @tech{plist dictionary}.}
+
+@defproc[(write-plist [dict plist-dict?] [out output-port?]) void?]{
+
+Write a @tech{plist dictionary} to the given port.}
 
 @examples[
 #:eval plist-eval