diff --git a/test/shaping/hb-read-manifest b/test/shaping/hb-read-manifest
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..46c6eb5ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/shaping/hb-read-manifest
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+if test $# = 0; then
+	echo "Usage: $0 DIR..."
+	exit 1
+fi
+
+strict=true
+
+recurse () {
+	if ! test -e "$1"; then
+		if $strict; then
+			echo "$0: $1 does not exist" 1>&2
+			exit 1
+		fi
+	fi
+	if test -d "$1"; then
+		if test -f "$1/MANIFEST"; then
+			cat "$1/MANIFEST" | while read f; do
+				recurse "$1/$f"
+			done
+		else
+			if $strict; then
+				echo "$0: $1/MANIFEST does not exist" 1>&2
+				exit 1
+			fi
+		fi
+	else
+		echo "$1"
+	fi
+}
+
+for root in "$@"; do
+	root=${root%/}
+	recurse "$root";
+done