diff --git a/update_ts_files.sh b/update_ts_files.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..22f8f252adc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/update_ts_files.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# Update the translation files with strings used in QGIS
+# 1. create a clean Qt .pro file for the project
+# 2. run lupdate using the .pro file from step 1
+# 3. remove the .pro
+echo Creating qmake project file
+qmake -project
+echo Updating translation files
+lupdate -verbose qgis.pro
+echo Removing qmake project file
+rm qgis.pro