diff --git a/scripts/i18n_utils.py b/scripts/i18n_utils.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/i18n_utils.py
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU 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 General Public License for more details.
+#
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+from __future__ import print_function
+
+import subprocess
+
+
+do_debug = False  # set from scripts/i18n --debug
+
+def debug(*args, **kwargs):
+    if do_debug:
+        print(*args, **kwargs)
+
+def runcmd(cmd, *args, **kwargs):
+    debug('... Executing command: %s' % ' '.join(cmd))
+    subprocess.check_call(cmd, *args, **kwargs)