diff --git a/python/Rakefile b/python/Rakefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d1ab43
--- /dev/null
+++ b/python/Rakefile
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+# -*- ruby -*-
+
+ENV["LC_ALL"] = "C" if RUBY_PLATFORM =~ /darwin/
+
+desc "run unit tests"
+task "test" do
+  sh "./cmdtest.py t"
+end