diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 228e003366..829db92c3b 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -48,11 +48,9 @@ are included as git submodules. To build urbit from source, perform the followin
 (For instructions for legacy meson, also see below)
 
 1. Install all required dependencies.
-2. `git submodule init` in the urbit repository
-3. `git submodule update`
-4. `meson ./build`
-5. If the last step was successful, type `ninja -C build` to compile urbit.
-6. The executable should appear in `./build` directory.
+2. Run `./scripts/bootstrap`
+3. Run `./scripts/build`
+4. The executable should appear in `./build` directory.
 
 ### Using meson & ninja
 To configure project, enter the build directory and enter
diff --git a/scripts/bootstrap b/scripts/bootstrap
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..4ac72fa7b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/bootstrap
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+git submodule init
+git submodule update
diff --git a/scripts/build b/scripts/build
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..7aa65d1a49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/build
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+mkdir ./build &> /dev/null
+meson . ./build
+ninja -C build