diff --git a/tools/release.sh b/tools/release.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7adb375
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# script to create a jgit release
+
+# uncomment to switch on trace
+#set -x
+
+# abort if a command hits an error
+set -e
+
+export basePath=$(cd "$(dirname "$0")"; pwd)
+echo basePath $basePath
+
+if [ -z $1 ]; then
+    echo "
+    Usage:
+    $ release.sh <release version tag>
+
+    e.g. release.sh v3.4.0.201405051725-m7
+"
+    exit
+fi
+
+# trimmed git status
+export status=$(git status --porcelain)
+
+if [ ! -z "$status" ];
+then
+    echo "
+    working tree is dirty -> can't create release
+"
+    exit
+fi
+
+MSG="JGit $1"
+
+# tag release
+git tag -s -m "$MSG" $1
+
+# update version numbers
+./tools/version.sh --release
+
+# commit changed version numbers
+git commit -a -s -m "$MSG"
+
+# move the tag to the version we release
+git tag -sf -m "$MSG" $1
+
+# run the build
+mvn clean install
+mvn clean install -f org.eclipse.jgit.packaging/pom.xml
+