diff --git a/direct/src/directscripts/make-panda3d-tgz.sh b/direct/src/directscripts/make-panda3d-tgz.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..539860a16c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/direct/src/directscripts/make-panda3d-tgz.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#! /bin/sh
+#
+# This script generates the panda3d-date.tar.gz tarball for a file
+# release of panda3d onto the SourceForge download site.
+#
+
+module=panda3d
+basename=$module-`date +%F`
+cvsroot=:pserver:anonymous@nit:/cvsroot/panda3d
+
+if [ -e $basename ]; then
+  echo $basename already exists in the local directory!
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+echo Checking out $module as $basename.
+cvs -f -d $cvsroot export -r HEAD -d $basename $module || exit
+
+# Move the contents of the doc module into the root directory where
+# people will expect to see it.
+mv $basename/doc/* $basename || exit
+rmdir $basename/doc || exit
+
+# Generate the tarball.
+tarfile=$basename.tar.gz
+tar cvzf $tarfile $basename || exit
+rm -rf $basename
+