diff --git a/setup/commands.py b/setup/commands.py
index 25510f6477..e19896dada 100644
--- a/setup/commands.py
+++ b/setup/commands.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ __all__ = [
         'develop', 'install',
         'kakasi', 'coffee', 'resources',
         'check',
-        'sdist',
+        'sdist', 'bootstrap',
         'manual', 'tag_release',
         'pypi_register', 'pypi_upload', 'upload_to_server',
         'upload_installers',
@@ -38,10 +38,11 @@ build = Build()
 from setup.mathjax import MathJax
 mathjax = MathJax()
 
-from setup.install import Develop, Install, Sdist
+from setup.install import Develop, Install, Sdist, Bootstrap
 develop = Develop()
 install = Install()
 sdist = Sdist()
+bootstrap = Bootstrap()
 
 from setup.gui import GUI
 gui = GUI()
diff --git a/setup/install.py b/setup/install.py
index fbb4bf4e6a..3993159bef 100644
--- a/setup/install.py
+++ b/setup/install.py
@@ -316,5 +316,19 @@ class Sdist(Command):
         if os.path.exists(self.DEST):
             os.remove(self.DEST)
 
+class Bootstrap(Command):
 
+    description = 'Bootstrap a fresh checkout of calibre from git to a state where it can be installed. Requires various development tools/libraries/headers'
+    TRANSLATIONS_REPO = 'https://github.com/kovidgoyal/calibre-translations.git'
+
+    def run(self, opts):
+        tdir = self.j(self.d(self.SRC), 'translations')
+        if os.path.exists(tdir):
+            subprocess.check_call(['git', 'pull'], cwd=tdir)
+        else:
+            subprocess.check_call(['git', 'clone', self.TRANSLATIONS_REPO, 'translations'], cwd=self.d(self.SRC))
+        for cmd in 'build iso639 iso3166 translations gui resources'.split():
+            self.info('Running %s setup.py %s' % (sys.executable, cmd))
+            subprocess.check_call([sys.executable, 'setup.py', cmd], cwd=self.d(self.SRC))
+        self.info('\n\nAll done! You should now be able to run "%s setup.py install" to install calibre' % sys.executable)