diff --git a/tools/unittest.hs b/tools/unittest.hs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6df6c30b0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/unittest.hs
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+{-
+A standalone unit test runner using test-framework. Compared to hledger's
+built-in test runner, this one shows verbose ansi-colored hierarchic
+results, can run tests in parallel, and may have better quickcheck support.
+-}
+
+import Test.Framework (defaultMain {-, testGroup-})
+import Test.Framework.Providers.HUnit (hUnitTestToTests)
+--import Test.Framework.Providers.QuickCheck2 (testProperty)
+import Test.HUnit hiding (Test)
+import qualified Test.HUnit (Test)
+--import Test.QuickCheck
+import Tests (tests)
+import System.Exit (-- exitFailure, exitWith,
+                               ExitCode(..))
+import System.IO (hGetContents, hPutStr, hFlush, stderr, stdout)
+import Text.Printf (printf)
+--import Text.ParserCombinators.Parsec
+import Control.Monad (liftM,when)
+import Data.Maybe (fromMaybe)
+import System.Process (runInteractiveCommand, waitForProcess)
+
+main :: IO ()
+main = defaultMain $ concatMap hUnitTestToTests tests