diff --git a/scripts/registeruser.php b/scripts/registeruser.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9857f5aeea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/registeruser.php
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env php
+<?php
+/*
+ * StatusNet - a distributed open-source microblogging tool
+ * Copyright (C) 2008, 2009, StatusNet, Inc.
+ *
+ * This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+ * it under the terms of the GNU Affero General Public License as published by
+ * the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+ * (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+ * but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+ * MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+ * GNU Affero General Public License for more details.
+ *
+ * You should have received a copy of the GNU Affero General Public License
+ * along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+ */
+
+define('INSTALLDIR', realpath(dirname(__FILE__) . '/..'));
+
+$shortoptions = 'n:w:f:e:';
+$longoptions = array('nickname=', 'password=', 'fullname=', 'email=');
+
+$helptext = <<<END_OF_REGISTERUSER_HELP
+deleteuser.php [options]
+deletes a user from the database
+
+  -n --nickname nickname of the new user
+  -w --password password of the new user
+  -f --fullname full name of the new user (optional)
+  -e --email    email address of the new user (optional)
+
+END_OF_REGISTERUSER_HELP;
+
+require_once INSTALLDIR.'/scripts/commandline.inc';
+
+$nickname = get_option_value('n', 'nickname');
+$password = get_option_value('w', 'password');
+$fullname = get_option_value('f', 'fullname');
+
+$email = get_option_value('e', 'email');
+
+if (empty($nickname) || empty($password)) {
+    print "Must provide a username and password.\n";
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+try {
+
+    $user = User::staticGet('nickname', $nickname);
+
+    if (!empty($user)) {
+        throw new Exception("A user named '$nickname' already exists.");
+    }
+
+    $user = User::register(array('nickname' => $nickname,
+                                 'password' => $password,
+                                 'fullname' => $fullname));
+
+    if (empty($user)) {
+        throw new Exception("Can't register user '$nickname' with password '$password' and fullname '$fullname'.");
+    }
+
+    if (!empty($email)) {
+
+        $orig = clone($user);
+
+        $user->email = $email;
+
+        if (!$user->updateKeys($orig)) {
+            print "Failed!\n";
+            throw new Exception("Can't update email address.");
+        }
+    }
+
+} catch (Exception $e) {
+    print $e->getMessage() . "\n";
+    exit(1);
+}