diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 16ff669..0b0e183 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1 +1 @@
-statsdaemon
+/statsdaemon
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 46643ce..14acbe8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -33,3 +33,13 @@ Usage of ./statsdaemon:
   -receive-counter="": Metric name for total metrics recevied per interval
   -version=false: print version string
 ```
+
+Building a Debian package
+=========================
+In your terminal, execute:
+
+    ./build-deb.sh <version> <386|amd64>
+
+where ``<version>`` is something like `0.5.0-5`. To compile this on mac you
+need to install ``dpkg`` using either Homebrew or Ports. You also need support
+for cross compiling Go applications.
diff --git a/build-deb.sh b/build-deb.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..7880271
--- /dev/null
+++ b/build-deb.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Inspired by http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=910717.
+set -o errexit
+
+if [ "$#" -ne 2 ]; then
+  echo "$0 <version> <386|amd64>"
+  echo
+  echo "where version is something like 'X.Y-Z'."
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+VERSION=$1
+BASEDIR=statsdaemon_$VERSION
+ARCH=$2
+
+GOOS=linux GOARCH=$ARCH go build statsdaemon.go
+
+if [ -d $BASEDIR ];then
+  rm -frv $BASEDIR
+fi
+cp -r deb $BASEDIR
+mkdir -pv $BASEDIR/usr/local/bin
+cp -v statsdaemon $BASEDIR/usr/local/bin
+
+sed "s/VERSION/$VERSION/g" deb/DEBIAN/control | sed "s/ARCH/$ARCH/g" > $BASEDIR/DEBIAN/control
+
+if [ -e ${BASEDIR}.deb ];then
+  rm -v ${BASEDIR}.deb
+fi
+dpkg-deb --build $BASEDIR
diff --git a/deb/DEBIAN/control b/deb/DEBIAN/control
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4fc600c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/DEBIAN/control
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+Package: statsdaemon
+Version: VERSION
+Section: base
+Priority: optional
+Architecture: ARCH
+Maintainer: Jens Rantil <jens.rantil@tink.se>
+Description: A binary statsd server implemented in Go.
+Homepage: https://github.com/bitly/statsdaemon
diff --git a/deb/DEBIAN/postinst b/deb/DEBIAN/postinst
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..bd6a38d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/DEBIAN/postinst
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -o errexit
+
+USER=statsdaemon
+USER_HOME=/tmp
+
+if [ "$1" = configure ]; then
+    adduser --system \
+            --quiet \
+            --home "$USER_HOME" \
+            --no-create-home \
+            --disabled-password \
+            --group "$USER"
+fi
+
+service statsdaemon start || true
diff --git a/deb/DEBIAN/postrm b/deb/DEBIAN/postrm
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5cca173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/DEBIAN/postrm
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -o errexit
+
+deluser statsdaemon || true
diff --git a/deb/DEBIAN/preinst b/deb/DEBIAN/preinst
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d856b69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/DEBIAN/preinst
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -o errexit
+
+if [ -e /etc/init/statsdaemon.conf ]; then
+  service statsdaemon stop || echo ""
+fi
diff --git a/deb/DEBIAN/prerm b/deb/DEBIAN/prerm
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..d856b69
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/DEBIAN/prerm
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+set -o errexit
+
+if [ -e /etc/init/statsdaemon.conf ]; then
+  service statsdaemon stop || echo ""
+fi
diff --git a/deb/etc/default/statsdaemon b/deb/etc/default/statsdaemon
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c73e896
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/etc/default/statsdaemon
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+# Additional settings for statsdaemon
+
+STATSDAEMON_OPTS=
diff --git a/deb/etc/init/statsdaemon.conf b/deb/etc/init/statsdaemon.conf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9bb3f16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/deb/etc/init/statsdaemon.conf
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# statsdaemon - binary statsd server.
+
+description "statsdaemon server"
+
+start on runlevel [2345]
+stop on runlevel [!2345]
+respawn
+respawn limit 360 180
+setuid statsdaemon
+setgid statsdaemon
+
+script
+  STATSDAEMON_OPTS=
+  if [ -e /etc/default/statsdaemon ];then
+    . /etc/default/statsdaemon
+  fi
+  exec /usr/local/bin/statsdaemon $STATSDAEMON_OPTS
+end script