diff --git a/scripts/makegroupadmin.php b/scripts/makegroupadmin.php
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a68798451c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/makegroupadmin.php
@@ -0,0 +1,89 @@
+#!/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__) . '/..'));
+
+$shortoptions = 'g:n:';
+$longoptions = array('nickname=', 'group=');
+
+$helptext = <<<END_OF_MAKEGROUPADMIN_HELP
+makegroupadmin.php [options]
+makes a user the admin of a group
+
+  -g --group    group to add an admin to
+  -n --nickname nickname of the new admin
+
+END_OF_MAKEGROUPADMIN_HELP;
+
+require_once INSTALLDIR.'/scripts/commandline.inc';
+
+$nickname = get_option_value('n', 'nickname');
+$groupname = get_option_value('g', 'group');
+
+if (empty($nickname) || empty($groupname)) {
+    print "Must provide a nickname and group.\n";
+    exit(1);
+}
+
+try {
+
+    $user = User::staticGet('nickname', $nickname);
+
+    if (empty($user)) {
+        throw new Exception("No user named '$nickname'.");
+    }
+
+    $group = User_group::staticGet('nickname', $groupname);
+
+    if (empty($group)) {
+        throw new Exception("No group named '$groupname'.");
+    }
+
+    $member = Group_member::pkeyGet(array('group_id' => $group->id,
+                                          'profile_id' => $user->id));
+
+    if (empty($member)) {
+        $member = new Group_member();
+
+        $member->group_id   = $group->id;
+        $member->profile_id = $user->id;
+        $member->created    = common_sql_now();
+
+        if (!$member->insert()) {
+            throw new Exception("Can't add '$nickname' to '$groupname'.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    if ($member->is_admin) {
+        throw new Exception("'$nickname' is already an admin of '$groupname'.");
+    }
+
+    $orig = clone($member);
+
+    $member->is_admin = 1;
+
+    if (!$member->update($orig)) {
+        throw new Exception("Can't make '$nickname' admin of '$groupname'.");
+    }
+
+} catch (Exception $e) {
+    print $e->getMessage() . "\n";
+    exit(1);
+}