diff --git a/scripts/update_docs_for_release.sh b/scripts/update_docs_for_release.sh
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..f37e36091
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/update_docs_for_release.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+st=$(git status --porcelain)
+if [ -n "$st" ]; then
+    echo "Working directory is not clean; aborting."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+if diff -r -q docs docs-master > /dev/null && diff -r -q schema schema-master > /dev/null; then
+    echo "No changes to docs or schema; nothing to do."
+    exit 0
+fi
+
+branch_name=update-docs-for-release
+
+if git show-ref --verify --quiet refs/heads/"$branch_name"; then
+    echo "Branch '$branch_name' already exists; aborting."
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+git checkout -b "$branch_name" --no-track origin/master
+
+git rm -r docs schema
+cp -r docs-master docs
+cp -r schema-master schema
+git add docs schema
+git commit -m "Update docs and schema for release"
+
+git push -u origin "$branch_name"