diff --git a/question/format/aiken/format.php b/question/format/aiken/format.php
index ab76310b157..01bd6f16b15 100644
--- a/question/format/aiken/format.php
+++ b/question/format/aiken/format.php
@@ -61,6 +61,18 @@ class qformat_aiken extends qformat_default {
         return true;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Validate the given file.
+     *
+     * For more expensive or detailed integrity checks.
+     *
+     * @param stored_file $file the file to check
+     * @return string the error message that occurred while validating the given file
+     */
+    public function validate_file(stored_file $file): string {
+        return $this->validate_is_utf8_file($file);
+    }
+
     public function readquestions($lines) {
         $questions = array();
         $question = null;