diff --git a/Ports/.port_include.sh b/Ports/.port_include.sh
index 08a6bcc41c7..fd6f7dff7ae 100755
--- a/Ports/.port_include.sh
+++ b/Ports/.port_include.sh
@@ -489,13 +489,22 @@ do_all() {
     do_install "${1:-}"
 }
 
+do_shell() {
+    do_installdepends
+    do_fetch
+    do_patch
+    cd "$workdir"
+    bash
+    echo "End of package shell. Back to the User shell."
+}
+
 NO_GPG=false
 parse_arguments() {
     if [ -z "${1:-}" ]; then
         do_all
     else
         case "$1" in
-            fetch|patch|configure|build|install|installdepends|clean|clean_dist|clean_all|uninstall|showproperty)
+            fetch|patch|shell|configure|build|install|installdepends|clean|clean_dist|clean_all|uninstall|showproperty)
                 method=$1
                 shift
                 do_${method} "$@"
diff --git a/Ports/README.md b/Ports/README.md
index 727fcdd47a6..2b21d1b2863 100644
--- a/Ports/README.md
+++ b/Ports/README.md
@@ -62,6 +62,10 @@ By default, run `make` with the port's [`makeopts`](#makeopts).
 
 By default, run `make install` with the port's [`installopts`](#installopts).
 
+#### `shell`
+
+Open a shell in the `$workdir` with the build environment set.
+
 #### `installdepends`
 
 Install all ports from the port's [`depends`](#depends) list.