diff --git a/tools/scripts/gitroot b/tools/scripts/gitroot
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..f4388df5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/scripts/gitroot
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+######################################################################
+#
+# gitroot
+#
+# Translate $1 or $PWD into the top-level workspace directory
+# containing .git
+#
+######################################################################
+
+if test $# -gt 0; then
+  dir=$(realpath $1)
+else
+  dir=$(pwd)
+fi
+while test $dir != /; do
+  if test -d $dir/.git; then
+    echo $dir
+    break
+  fi
+  if test -f $dir/.git; then
+    ndir=$(sed -n -e 's/^gitdir: \(.*\)/\1/p' $dir/.git)
+    if test "$ndir"; then
+      ndir=$(cd $dir && cd $ndir && pwd)
+      ndir=${ndir%/.git/*}
+      if test -d "$ndir"; then
+        dir=$ndir
+        continue
+      fi
+    fi
+  fi
+  dir=${dir%/*}
+done
+if test "$dir" = "/"; then
+  echo "*** cannot find git root" 1>&2
+  exit 1
+fi