diff --git a/contrib/showstack.py b/contrib/showstack.py
new file mode 100644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/contrib/showstack.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+# showstack.py - extension to dump a Python stack trace on signal
+#
+# binds to both SIGQUIT (Ctrl-\) and SIGINFO (Ctrl-T on BSDs)
+
+import sys, signal, traceback
+
+def sigshow(*args):
+    sys.stderr.write("\n")
+    traceback.print_stack(args[1], limit=10, file=sys.stderr)
+    sys.stderr.write("----\n")
+
+def extsetup(ui):
+    signal.signal(signal.SIGQUIT, sigshow)
+    try:
+        signal.signal(signal.SIGINFO, sigshow)
+    except AttributeError:
+        pass