diff --git a/README b/README
index 33e27942..140b6a0d 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ configuration to the build. These are:
                    last character on a line to join that line with the next.
                    It has no special meaning in other contexts; in particular,
                    literal backslashes should not be escaped.
+ init=xxxx	   As for 'prebuild', but runs on the source code BEFORE any
+ 		   other processing takes place.
  novcheck=yes      Don't check that the version name and code in the resulting
                    apk are correct by looking at the build output - assume the
                    metadata is correct. This takes away a useful level of
diff --git a/common.py b/common.py
index 57f41ec6..e88bf551 100644
--- a/common.py
+++ b/common.py
@@ -651,6 +651,12 @@ def prepare_source(vcs, app, build, build_dir, extlib_dir, sdk_path, ndk_path, j
     if build.get('submodules', 'no')  == 'yes':
         vcs.initsubmodules()
 
+    # Run an init command if one is required...
+    if build.has_key('init'):
+        init = build['init']
+        if subprocess.call(init, cwd=root_dir, shell=True) != 0:
+            raise BuildException("Error running init command")
+
     # Generate (or update) the ant build file, build.xml...
     if (build.get('update', 'yes') == 'yes' and
         not build.has_key('maven')):