diff --git a/githooks/pre-commit b/githooks/pre-commit
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c25e388
--- /dev/null
+++ b/githooks/pre-commit
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+# pre-commit hook
+
+# check formatting
+if ! cargo fmt --check --quiet ; then
+        echo "error: run cargo fmt before committing"
+        exit 1
+else
+        echo "cargo fmt checked successfully"
+fi