diff --git a/scrapy/trunk/bin/runtests.sh b/scrapy/trunk/bin/runtests.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..20a73c45d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scrapy/trunk/bin/runtests.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+# look for twisted trial command in common known locations
+if [ -x /usr/bin/trial ]; then
+    trial="/usr/bin/trial"
+elif [ -x /usr/lib64/twisted/bin/trial ]; then
+    trial="/usr/lib64/twisted/bin/trial"
+fi
+
+# disable custom settings for running tests in a neutral environment
+export SCRAPY_SETTINGS_DISABLED=1
+
+if [ $# -eq 0 ]; then
+    $trial scrapy
+else
+    $trial "$@"
+fi
+