diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index ba8bb81856..867a56ee81 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -26,6 +26,14 @@ m4_defines = []
 
 #####################################################################
 
+# Try to install the git pre-commit hook
+git_hook = run_command(join_paths(meson.source_root(), 'tools/add-git-hook.sh'))
+if git_hook.returncode() == 0
+        message(git_hook.stdout().strip())
+endif
+
+#####################################################################
+
 rootprefixdir = get_option('rootprefix')
 if get_option('split-usr')
         conf.set('HAVE_SPLIT_USR', true)
diff --git a/tools/add-git-hook.sh b/tools/add-git-hook.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..4ee919faf4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/add-git-hook.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh -eu
+
+cd "$MESON_SOURCE_ROOT"
+
+if [ ! -f .git/hooks/pre-commit.sample -o -f .git/hooks/pre-commit ]; then
+        exit 2 # not needed
+fi
+
+cp -p .git/hooks/pre-commit.sample .git/hooks/pre-commit
+chmod +x .git/hooks/pre-commit
+echo 'Activated pre-commit hook'