diff --git a/tools/README.md b/tools/README.md
index 9e0965ff6a..2d5eacdcdb 100644
--- a/tools/README.md
+++ b/tools/README.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ Setup
 1. Run `ubuntu_setup.sh` or `mac_setup.sh`, make sure everything completed correctly
 
 2. Compile openpilot by running ```scons``` in the openpilot directory
+   or alternatively run ```./openpilot_build.sh``` (uses a pre-configured docker container)
 
 3. Try out some tools!
 
diff --git a/tools/openpilot_build.sh b/tools/openpilot_build.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f0f89d936e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/openpilot_build.sh
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+docker run --rm -v $(pwd):/tmp/openpilot -it commaai/openpilot bash -c 'cd /tmp/openpilot && scons -j$(nproc)'