diff --git a/hosts/common/programs/assorted.nix b/hosts/common/programs/assorted.nix
index 18eb9523..eb38ad3e 100644
--- a/hosts/common/programs/assorted.nix
+++ b/hosts/common/programs/assorted.nix
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ in
       "sane-scripts.bt-show"
     ];
     "sane-scripts.dev" = declPackageSet [
+      "sane-scripts.clone"
       "sane-scripts.dev-cargo-loop"
       "sane-scripts.git-init"
     ];
diff --git a/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/default.nix b/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/default.nix
index 8fde1a50..d99c1429 100644
--- a/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/default.nix
+++ b/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/default.nix
@@ -66,6 +66,11 @@ let
       pyPkgs = [ "sane-lib.bt" ];
       pkgs = [ "sane-scripts.lib.bt.propagatedBuildInputs" ];
     };
+    clone = static-nix-shell.mkBash {
+      pname = "sane-clone";
+      src = ./src;
+      pkgs = [ "jq" "nix" ];
+    };
     deadlines = static-nix-shell.mkBash {
       pname = "sane-deadlines";
       src = ./src;
diff --git a/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/src/sane-clone b/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/src/sane-clone
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..ff2e9f53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkgs/additional/sane-scripts/src/sane-clone
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env nix-shell
+#!nix-shell -i bash -p jq -p nix
+
+# use like `eval $(sane-clone tuba)` to clone and cd into a tuba checkout
+
+srcattr="$1.src"
+basedir=/home/colin/ref/repos
+
+repourl="$(nix eval nixpkgs#$srcattr.gitRepoUrl | jq --raw-output)"
+repoowner="$(nix eval nixpkgs#$srcattr.owner | jq --raw-output)"
+reponame="$(nix eval nixpkgs#$srcattr.repo | jq --raw-output)"
+
+ownerdir="$basedir/$repoowner"
+clonedir="$ownerdir/$reponame"
+
+mkdir -p "$ownerdir"
+git clone "$repourl" "$clonedir"
+
+# drop the user into the checkout
+echo "cd $clonedir"
+cd "$clonedir"