diff --git a/qlty-check/src/planner/invocation_directory.rs b/qlty-check/src/planner/invocation_directory.rs
index 2202ce20a..0423373f2 100644
--- a/qlty-check/src/planner/invocation_directory.rs
+++ b/qlty-check/src/planner/invocation_directory.rs
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ impl InvocationDirectoryPlanner {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::{planner::target::Target, tool::null_tool::NullTool};
+    use crate::{planner::target::Target, tool::shell_tool::ShellTool};
     use qlty_analysis::{utils::fs::path_to_string, WorkspaceEntryKind};
     use qlty_config::config::InvocationDirectoryDef;
     use qlty_test_utilities::git::sample_repo;
@@ -144,13 +144,13 @@ mod test {
                 config_files: vec!["config_file.json".into()],
                 ..Default::default()
             },
-            tool: Box::new(NullTool {
+            tool: Box::new(ShellTool {
                 parent_directory: temp_dir
                     .to_path_buf()
                     .join(".qlty")
                     .join("cache")
                     .join("tools")
-                    .join("null_tool"),
+                    .join("shell_tool"),
                 plugin_name: "mock_plugin".to_string(),
                 plugin: Default::default(),
             }),
@@ -304,13 +304,13 @@ mod test {
                 config_files: vec!["config_file.json".into()],
                 ..Default::default()
             },
-            tool: Box::new(NullTool {
+            tool: Box::new(ShellTool {
                 parent_directory: temp_dir_path
                     .to_path_buf()
                     .join(".qlty")
                     .join("cache")
                     .join("tools")
-                    .join("null_tool"),
+                    .join("shell_tool"),
                 plugin_name: "mock_plugin".to_string(),
                 plugin: Default::default(),
             }),
diff --git a/qlty-check/src/planner/target_batcher.rs b/qlty-check/src/planner/target_batcher.rs
index 54aacd105..b47fe7b35 100644
--- a/qlty-check/src/planner/target_batcher.rs
+++ b/qlty-check/src/planner/target_batcher.rs
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ fn normalize_config_path(
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod test {
     use super::*;
-    use crate::tool::null_tool::NullTool;
+    use crate::tool::shell_tool::ShellTool;
     use qlty_analysis::WorkspaceEntryKind;
     use qlty_config::config::{InvocationDirectoryDef, InvocationDirectoryType, PluginDef};
     use qlty_test_utilities::git::sample_repo;
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ mod test {
                     config_files: vec!["config1".into(), "config2".into()],
                     ..Default::default()
                 },
-                tool: Box::new(NullTool {
+                tool: Box::new(ShellTool {
                     plugin_name: "mock_plugin".to_string(),
                     plugin: Default::default(),
                     ..Default::default()
@@ -520,7 +520,7 @@ mod test {
                     config_files: vec!["config_file.json".into()],
                     ..Default::default()
                 },
-                tool: Box::new(NullTool {
+                tool: Box::new(ShellTool {
                     plugin_name: "mock_plugin".to_string(),
                     plugin: Default::default(),
                     ..Default::default()
diff --git a/qlty-check/src/tool.rs b/qlty-check/src/tool.rs
index 3f8dbdbea..b543c62ed 100644
--- a/qlty-check/src/tool.rs
+++ b/qlty-check/src/tool.rs
@@ -5,13 +5,13 @@ pub mod go;
 mod installations;
 pub mod java;
 pub mod node;
-pub mod null_tool;
 pub mod php;
 pub mod python;
 pub mod ruby;
 mod ruby_source;
 mod runnable_archive;
 pub mod rust;
+pub mod shell_tool;
 pub mod tool_builder;
 
 use crate::tool::download::Download;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ pub enum ToolType {
     Download,
     RuntimePackage,
     GitHubRelease,
-    NullTool,
+    ShellTool,
 }
 
 pub trait Tool: Debug + Sync + Send {
diff --git a/qlty-check/src/tool/null_tool.rs b/qlty-check/src/tool/null_tool.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 23c5db5de..000000000
--- a/qlty-check/src/tool/null_tool.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,70 +0,0 @@
-use std::path::PathBuf;
-
-use super::{global_tools_root, ToolType};
-use crate::{ui::ProgressTask, Tool};
-use anyhow::Result;
-use qlty_analysis::utils::fs::path_to_string;
-use qlty_config::config::PluginDef;
-
-#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
-pub struct NullTool {
-    pub parent_directory: PathBuf,
-    pub plugin_name: String,
-    pub plugin: PluginDef,
-}
-
-impl Default for NullTool {
-    fn default() -> Self {
-        Self {
-            parent_directory: PathBuf::from(global_tools_root()),
-            plugin_name: "NullTool".to_string(),
-            plugin: Default::default(),
-        }
-    }
-}
-
-impl Tool for NullTool {
-    fn parent_directory(&self) -> String {
-        path_to_string(self.parent_directory.join(self.name()))
-    }
-
-    fn plugin(&self) -> Option<PluginDef> {
-        Some(self.plugin.clone())
-    }
-
-    fn name(&self) -> String {
-        self.plugin_name.clone()
-    }
-
-    fn tool_type(&self) -> ToolType {
-        ToolType::NullTool
-    }
-
-    fn version(&self) -> Option<String> {
-        self.plugin.version.clone()
-    }
-
-    fn version_command(&self) -> Option<String> {
-        self.plugin.version_command.clone()
-    }
-
-    fn version_regex(&self) -> String {
-        self.plugin.version_regex.clone()
-    }
-
-    fn package_install(&self, _: &ProgressTask, _: &str, _: &str) -> Result<()> {
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn clone_box(&self) -> Box<dyn Tool> {
-        Box::new(self.clone())
-    }
-
-    fn install_and_validate(&self, _: &ProgressTask) -> Result<()> {
-        Ok(())
-    }
-
-    fn is_installed(&self) -> bool {
-        true
-    }
-}
diff --git a/qlty-check/src/tool/shell_tool.rs b/qlty-check/src/tool/shell_tool.rs
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..847361da2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-check/src/tool/shell_tool.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+use super::{global_tools_root, ToolType};
+use crate::{ui::ProgressTask, Tool};
+use anyhow::Result;
+use qlty_analysis::utils::fs::path_to_string;
+use qlty_config::config::PluginDef;
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone)]
+pub struct ShellTool {
+    pub parent_directory: PathBuf,
+    pub plugin_name: String,
+    pub plugin: PluginDef,
+}
+
+impl Default for ShellTool {
+    fn default() -> Self {
+        Self {
+            parent_directory: PathBuf::from(global_tools_root()),
+            plugin_name: "ShellTool".to_string(),
+            plugin: Default::default(),
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl Tool for ShellTool {
+    fn parent_directory(&self) -> String {
+        path_to_string(self.parent_directory.join(self.name()))
+    }
+
+    fn plugin(&self) -> Option<PluginDef> {
+        Some(self.plugin.clone())
+    }
+
+    fn name(&self) -> String {
+        self.plugin_name.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn tool_type(&self) -> ToolType {
+        ToolType::ShellTool
+    }
+
+    fn version(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.plugin.version.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn version_command(&self) -> Option<String> {
+        self.plugin.version_command.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn version_regex(&self) -> String {
+        self.plugin.version_regex.clone()
+    }
+
+    fn package_install(&self, _: &ProgressTask, _: &str, _: &str) -> Result<()> {
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn clone_box(&self) -> Box<dyn Tool> {
+        Box::new(self.clone())
+    }
+
+    fn install_and_validate(&self, task: &ProgressTask) -> Result<()> {
+        if self.plugin.install_script.is_some() {
+            self.internal_pre_install(task)?;
+            self.install(task)?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn install(&self, _task: &ProgressTask) -> Result<()> {
+        if let Some(ref script_path) = self.plugin.install_script {
+            let script_path =
+                std::fs::canonicalize(script_path).unwrap_or_else(|_| PathBuf::from(script_path));
+            self.run_command(duct::cmd!("sh", script_path))?;
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn is_installed(&self) -> bool {
+        if self.plugin.install_script.is_some() {
+            self.donefile_path().exists() && self.exists()
+        } else {
+            true
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod test {
+    use super::*;
+    use crate::Progress;
+    use std::path::PathBuf;
+    use tempfile::tempdir;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_setup_runs_install_script() {
+        let temp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let script_path = temp_dir.path().join("install.sh");
+        std::fs::write(&script_path, "touch marker.txt").unwrap();
+
+        let tool = ShellTool {
+            parent_directory: temp_dir.path().join("tools"),
+            plugin_name: "test_plugin".to_string(),
+            plugin: PluginDef {
+                version: Some("1.0.0".to_string()),
+                install_script: Some(script_path.to_string_lossy().to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        };
+
+        let task = Progress::new(false, 1).task("TEST", "installing");
+        tool.setup(&task).unwrap();
+
+        assert!(tool.is_installed());
+        assert!(PathBuf::from(tool.directory()).join("marker.txt").exists());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_setup_without_install_script_is_noop() {
+        let tool = ShellTool {
+            plugin_name: "noop_plugin".to_string(),
+            plugin: PluginDef {
+                version: Some("1.0.0".to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+            ..Default::default()
+        };
+
+        assert!(tool.is_installed());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_setup_failing_install_script() {
+        let temp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let script_path = temp_dir.path().join("bad_install.sh");
+        std::fs::write(&script_path, "exit 1").unwrap();
+
+        let tool = ShellTool {
+            parent_directory: temp_dir.path().join("tools"),
+            plugin_name: "failing_plugin".to_string(),
+            plugin: PluginDef {
+                version: Some("1.0.0".to_string()),
+                install_script: Some(script_path.to_string_lossy().to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        };
+
+        let task = Progress::new(false, 1).task("TEST", "installing");
+        let result = tool.setup(&task);
+
+        assert!(result.is_err());
+        assert!(!tool.is_installed());
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_setup_is_idempotent() {
+        let temp_dir = tempdir().unwrap();
+        let script_path = temp_dir.path().join("install.sh");
+        std::fs::write(&script_path, "touch marker.txt").unwrap();
+
+        let tool = ShellTool {
+            parent_directory: temp_dir.path().join("tools"),
+            plugin_name: "test_plugin".to_string(),
+            plugin: PluginDef {
+                version: Some("1.0.0".to_string()),
+                install_script: Some(script_path.to_string_lossy().to_string()),
+                ..Default::default()
+            },
+        };
+
+        let task = Progress::new(false, 1).task("TEST", "installing");
+        tool.setup(&task).unwrap();
+        tool.setup(&task).unwrap();
+
+        assert!(tool.is_installed());
+    }
+}
diff --git a/qlty-check/src/tool/tool_builder.rs b/qlty-check/src/tool/tool_builder.rs
index 0626134e2..5be842449 100644
--- a/qlty-check/src/tool/tool_builder.rs
+++ b/qlty-check/src/tool/tool_builder.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ use crate::Tool;
 use super::{
     download::{Download, DownloadTool},
     github::{GitHubRelease, GitHubReleaseTool},
-    go, java, node,
-    null_tool::NullTool,
-    php, python, ruby, rust, RuntimeTool,
+    go, java, node, php, python, ruby, rust,
+    shell_tool::ShellTool,
+    RuntimeTool,
 };
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy)]
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ impl ToolBuilder<'_> {
         } else if let Some(download_name) = self.plugin.downloads.first() {
             self.build_download_tool(download_name, &plugin_version)
         } else {
-            Ok(Box::new(NullTool {
+            Ok(Box::new(ShellTool {
                 plugin_name: self.plugin_name.to_string(),
                 plugin: self.plugin.clone(),
                 ..Default::default()
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/.gitignore b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..abbd1c70e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+.qlty/results
+.qlty/logs
+.qlty/out
+.qlty/sources
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/.qlty/qlty.toml b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/.qlty/qlty.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..17e4c3c6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/.qlty/qlty.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+config_version = "0"
+
+[plugins.definitions.greeter]
+file_types = ["shell"]
+install_script = "install.sh"
+
+[plugins.definitions.greeter.drivers.lint]
+script = "sh ${linter}/greet.sh ${target}"
+success_codes = [0]
+output = "pass_fail"
+
+[[plugin]]
+name = "greeter"
+version = "1.0.0"
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/install.sh b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/install.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..edbef0301
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/install.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+echo '#!/bin/sh' > greet.sh
+echo 'grep -q "hello" "$1" && exit 0 || exit 1' >> greet.sh
+chmod +x greet.sh
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/sample.sh b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/sample.sh
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a6e351d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.in/sample.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+echo "hello world"
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.stderr b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.stderr
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46df8a6c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.stderr
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+     [0/1] [..]Planning...  [..]s
+     [1/1] [..]Analyzing all targets...
+✔ No issues
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.stdout b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.stdout
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..45fb73476
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.stdout
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+ JOBS: 2
+
+Plugin   Result   Targets   Time   Debug File
+greeter  Success  1 target  [..]s  .qlty/out/invoke-[..].yaml
+greeter  Success  1 target  [..]s  .qlty/out/invoke-[..].yaml
+
+Checked 2 files
diff --git a/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.toml b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.toml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1669837ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qlty-cli/tests/cmd/check/install_script.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+bin.name = "qlty"
+args = ["check", "--all", "--verbose", "--no-cache"]
diff --git a/qlty-config/src/config/plugin.rs b/qlty-config/src/config/plugin.rs
index cf04f97bd..1a68690b4 100644
--- a/qlty-config/src/config/plugin.rs
+++ b/qlty-config/src/config/plugin.rs
@@ -411,6 +411,9 @@ pub struct PluginDef {
 
     #[serde(default = "default_tab_column_width")]
     pub tab_column_width: usize,
+
+    #[serde(default)]
+    pub install_script: Option<String>,
 }
 
 fn default_idempotent() -> bool {
diff --git a/qlty-config/src/sources/source.rs b/qlty-config/src/sources/source.rs
index ef65a581c..44ab23d7d 100644
--- a/qlty-config/src/sources/source.rs
+++ b/qlty-config/src/sources/source.rs
@@ -154,6 +154,7 @@ pub trait Source: SourceFetch {
             .parse::<toml::Value>()
             .with_context(|| format!("Could not parse {}", source_file.path.display()))?;
         self.add_context_to_exported_config_paths(&mut contents_toml, source_file);
+        self.add_context_to_install_script(&mut contents_toml, source_file);
 
         Builder::validate_toml(&source_file.path, contents_toml.clone())
             .with_context(|| SOURCE_PARSE_ERROR)?;
@@ -195,6 +196,33 @@ pub trait Source: SourceFetch {
         Some(())
     }
 
+    fn add_context_to_install_script(
+        &self,
+        toml: &mut toml::Value,
+        source_file: &SourceFile,
+    ) -> Option<()> {
+        for (_, plugin) in toml
+            .as_table_mut()?
+            .get_mut("plugins")?
+            .as_table_mut()?
+            .get_mut("definitions")?
+            .as_table_mut()?
+            .iter_mut()
+        {
+            if let Some(value) = plugin.get_mut("install_script") {
+                if let Some(value_str) = value.as_str() {
+                    if let Some(parent) = source_file.path.parent() {
+                        let resolved = parent.join(value_str);
+                        let absolute = std::fs::canonicalize(&resolved).unwrap_or(resolved);
+                        *value = Value::String(absolute.to_string_lossy().to_string());
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        Some(())
+    }
+
     fn build_config(&self) -> Result<QltyConfig> {
         let toml_string = toml::to_string(&self.toml()?).unwrap();
         let file = File::from_str(&toml_string, config::FileFormat::Toml);