A normed algebra A is a pre-B*-algebra if its norm satisfies ∥x*x∥= ∥x∥2 for all elements x ∈ A; if A is also complete in its norm, then A is a B*-algebra (see (l), page 180). In the study of certain locally convex algebras, the problem arose of expressing the condition that an algebra be a pre-B*-algebra in terms of its properties as a locally convex algebra, rather than in terms of the norm. A solution to this problem is presented in this note; the application to the theory of locally convex algebras will appear elsewhere.