diff --git a/docs/getting_and_compiling.txt b/docs/getting_and_compiling.txt
index 4ca93cf..21475e8 100644
--- a/docs/getting_and_compiling.txt
+++ b/docs/getting_and_compiling.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 firstly, make sure to pull git-lfs references with: :git lfs fetch origin main:
 install cmake and sdl2-dev packages in manner suitable to your distribution
-add /tools/ directory to your $PATH, for example, with: PATH=$PATH:$(realpath ./tools/)
+add /tools/ directory to your $PATH, for example, with :source hookup:
 navigate to one of /apps/ folders for demos
 run `twn build` to build
 runnable apps should have the same name as app folder it is in
diff --git a/hookup b/hookup
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..fa15256
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hookup
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/bin/env sh
+# hookup /tools/ to be usable no matter where
+# usage: `source hookup`
+
+set +e
+
+# TODO: prevent double hooking
+export PATH=$PATH:$(realpath $(dirname -- "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")/tools/)