diff --git a/helpers/get-svn-source.sh b/helpers/get-svn-source.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..e5a36717
--- /dev/null
+++ b/helpers/get-svn-source.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+#
+# checkout or update an existing svn repository
+#
+# (C) 2019 vanhofen
+# License: WTFPLv2
+#
+# parameters:
+# * svn URL
+# * destination directory
+#
+SVN_URL="$1"
+DEST="$2"
+
+if [ -d $DEST ]; then
+	cd $DEST
+		svn update || true
+else
+	svn checkout $SVN_URL $DEST
+fi