diff --git a/src/documents/apps.py b/src/documents/apps.py
index 699b32865..363f29a07 100644
--- a/src/documents/apps.py
+++ b/src/documents/apps.py
@@ -7,12 +7,16 @@ class DocumentsConfig(AppConfig):
 
     def ready(self):
 
+        from .signals import document_consumption_started
         from .signals import document_consumption_finished
         from .signals.handlers import (
-            set_correspondent, set_tags, run_external_script)
+            set_correspondent, set_tags, run_pre_consume_script,
+            run_post_consume_script)
+
+        document_consumption_started.connect(run_pre_consume_script)
 
         document_consumption_finished.connect(set_tags)
         document_consumption_finished.connect(set_correspondent)
-        document_consumption_finished.connect(run_external_script)
+        document_consumption_finished.connect(run_post_consume_script)
 
         AppConfig.ready(self)
diff --git a/src/documents/signals/handlers.py b/src/documents/signals/handlers.py
index 3c7700170..d9ed9090f 100644
--- a/src/documents/signals/handlers.py
+++ b/src/documents/signals/handlers.py
@@ -57,7 +57,18 @@ def set_tags(sender, document=None, logging_group=None, **kwargs):
     document.tags.add(*relevant_tags)
 
 
-def run_external_script(sender, document, **kwargs):
+def run_pre_consume_script(sender, filename, **kwargs):
+
+    if not settings.PRE_CONSUME_SCRIPT:
+        return
+
+    Popen((
+        settings.PRE_CONSUME_SCRIPT,
+        filename
+    )).wait()
+
+
+def run_post_consume_script(sender, document, **kwargs):
 
     if not settings.POST_CONSUME_SCRIPT:
         return
diff --git a/src/paperless/settings.py b/src/paperless/settings.py
index ad6084711..faf532d52 100644
--- a/src/paperless/settings.py
+++ b/src/paperless/settings.py
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ PASSPHRASE = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_PASSPHRASE")
 SHARED_SECRET = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_SHARED_SECRET", "")
 
 # Trigger a script after every successful document consumption?
+PRE_CONSUME_SCRIPT = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_PRE_CONSUME_SCRIPT")
 POST_CONSUME_SCRIPT = os.getenv("PAPERLESS_POST_CONSUME_SCRIPT")
 
 #