diff --git a/mp-check/Makefile b/mp-check/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e9b6186
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mp-check/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+PREFIX = /usr
+
+install:
+	install -Dm755 "mp-check.sh" $(DESTDIR)/$(PREFIX)/bin/mp-check
+
+uninstall:
+	rm $(DESTDIR)/$(PREFIX)/bin/mp-check
+
+.PHONY: install uninstall
diff --git a/mp-check/README.md b/mp-check/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7ab7244
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mp-check/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# mp-check | MatterLinux package check script
+A simple script to check MatterLinux package archives and sources
+for common errors and mistakes.
+
+### Usage
+To check a package archive, specify the path for the archive:
+script:
+```bash
+mp-check /path/to/package_version.mpf
+```
+You can also check for package sources files by specifying the
+path for the package source directory:
+```bash
+mp-check /path/to/package/source
+```
diff --git a/mp-check/mp-check.sh b/mp-check/mp-check.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..5a751fb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/mp-check/mp-check.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,361 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# mp-check | MatterLinux package check script
+# MatterLinux 2023-2024 (https://matterlinux.xyz)
+
+# This program is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
+# it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
+# the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
+# (at your option) any later version.
+
+# This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful,
+# but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
+# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE.  See the
+# GNU General Public License for more details.
+
+# You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
+# along with this program.  If not, see <https://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
+
+#############################
+## import common functions ##
+#############################
+location=$(dirname "${0}")
+location=$(realpath "${location}")
+commonsh="$(echo "${location}" | sed 's/\/bin/\/lib/g')/mtsc-common.sh"
+
+source "${commonsh}" > /dev/null
+
+if [ "${?}" != "0" ]; then
+  echo "Failed to import mtsc-common"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+#################
+## global vars ##
+#################
+warnc=0
+tmpdir="/tmp/.mp-clean"
+required_files=(
+  "DATA"
+  "HASHES"
+  "CHANGES"
+  "files.tar.gz"
+)
+required_keys=(
+  "version"
+  "desc"
+  "size"
+)
+root_dirs=(
+  "boot"
+  "etc"
+  "mnt"
+  "srv"
+  "usr"
+  "var"
+  "opt"
+)
+bad_vars=(
+  '$VERSION'
+  '$ROOTDIR'
+  '$NAME'
+  '$DESC'
+)
+
+####################
+## util functions ##
+####################
+# adds a new warning to the counter
+add_warning(){
+  warnc=$((warnc+1))
+}
+
+# cleans up the temp directoru
+clean_tempdir(){
+  rm -rf "${tmpdir}"
+}
+
+# recreates the temp directory
+make_tempdir(){
+  clean_tempdir
+  mkdir "${tmpdir}"
+}
+
+# returns check status fail
+fail_check(){
+  clean_tempdir
+  unset_indent
+
+  error "${BOLD}Check ${RED}FAILED${RESET}"
+  exit 1
+}
+
+# returns check status fail
+success_check(){
+  clean_tempdir
+  unset_indent
+
+  if [ "${warnc}" == "0" ]; then
+    success "Check ${GREEN}SUCCESS${RESET}"
+  elif [ "${warnc}" == "1" ]; then
+    success "Check ${GREEN}SUCCESS${RESET}${BOLD} with ${YELLOW}${warnc}${RESET}${BOLD} warning${RESET}"
+  else
+    success "Check ${GREEN}SUCCESS${RESET}${BOLD} with ${YELLOW}${warnc}${RESET}${BOLD} warnings${RESET}"
+  fi
+
+  exit 0
+}
+
+# if the last command failed, print error and fail
+check_ret_fail(){
+  if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    if [ ! -z "$1" ]; then
+      error "$1"
+    fi
+    fail_check
+  fi
+}
+
+check_archive(){
+  make_tempdir
+  info "Extracting the archive"
+  tar xf "${archivepath}" -C "${tmpdir}"
+  check_ret_fail "Failed to extract the archive"
+
+  info "Checking archive files"
+  set_indent
+
+  for f in "${required_files[@]}"; do
+    if [ ! -f "${tmpdir}/${f}" ]; then
+      error "Archive does not contain required file: ${BOLD}${f}${RESET}"
+      fail_check
+    fi
+  done
+
+  unset_indent
+  info "Checking DATA file"
+  set_indent
+
+  for k in "${required_keys[@]}"; do
+    local line_1="$(grep "^${k}=" "${tmpdir}/DATA")"
+    local line_2="$(grep "^${k} =" "${tmpdir}/DATA")"
+
+    if [ -z "${line_1}" ] && [ -z "${line_2}" ]; then
+      error "File does not contain the required key: ${BOLD}${k}${RESET}"
+      fail_check
+    fi
+
+    if [ "${k}" == "version" ]; then
+      if [ ! -z "${line_1}" ]; then
+        version="$(echo "${line_1}" | sed 's/version= //g')"
+        version="$(echo "${version}" | sed 's/version=//g')"
+      else
+        version="$(echo "${line_2}" | sed 's/version = //g')"
+        version="$(echo "${version}" | sed 's/version =//g')"
+      fi
+
+      if [ -z "${version}" ]; then
+        error "Failed to obtain package version information"
+        fail_check
+      fi
+    fi
+  done
+
+  name="$(head -n1 "${tmpdir}/DATA" | sed 's/\[//g')"
+  name="$(echo "${name}" | sed 's/]//g')"
+
+  if [ -z "${name}" ]; then
+    error "Failed to obtain package name information"
+    fail_check
+  fi
+
+  filename="${name}_${version}.mpf"
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+
+  info "Checking HASHES file"
+  set_indent
+
+  while read l; do
+    if [ -z "${l}" ]; then
+      continue
+    fi
+
+    local hash_line="$(echo "${l}" | cut -d' ' -f1)"
+    local file_line="$(echo "${l}" | cut -d' ' -f3)"
+
+    if [ -z "${hash_line}" ] || [ -z "${file_line}" ]; then
+      error "File contains an invalid formatted line"
+      fail_check
+    fi
+
+    if [ "${#hash_line}" != "32" ]; then
+      error "File contains an invalid MD5 hash"
+      fail_check
+    fi
+  done < "${tmpdir}/HASHES"
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+
+  info "Checking files.tar.gz archive"
+  set_indent
+
+  while read p; do
+    if [ "${p:0:1}" == "." ] || [ "${p:0:1}" == "/" ]; then
+      error "Root file location is invalid (${p:0:1})"
+      fail_check
+    fi
+
+    local path_root="$(echo "${p}" | cut -d/ -f1)"
+    local found=0
+
+    for d in "${root_dirs[@]}"; do
+      if [ "${path_root}" == "${d}" ]; then
+        found=1
+        break
+      fi
+    done
+
+    if [ "${found}" == "0" ]; then
+      error "Package files contains an unknown root directory: ${path_root}"
+      fail_check
+    fi
+  done < <(tar tf "${tmpdir}/files.tar.gz")
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+
+  info "Checking INSTALL file"
+  set_indent
+
+  if [ -f "${tmpdir}/INSTALL" ] && ! grep -q . "${tmpdir}/INSTALL"; then
+    warn "Package contains an empty install script"
+    add_warning
+  fi
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+
+  info "Checking CHANGES file"
+  set_indent
+
+  if ! grep -q . "${tmpdir}/CHANGES"; then
+    warn "Changes file is empty"
+    add_warning
+  fi
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+
+  info "Checking archive name"
+  set_indent
+
+  archivefile="$(basename "${archivepath}")"
+
+  if [ "${archivefile}" != "${filename}" ]; then
+    warn "Package archive name is not ideal (${archivefile} -> ${filename})"
+    add_warning
+  fi
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+  clean_tempdir
+}
+
+check_source(){
+  info "Checking the package script"
+  set_indent
+
+  if [ ! -f "${sourcepath}/pkg.sh" ]; then
+    error "Package script does not exist"
+    fail_check
+  fi
+
+  source "${sourcepath}/pkg.sh"
+  check_ret_fail "Failed to source the package script"
+
+  check_pkg_vars
+  check_ret_fail
+
+  if [ ${#DESC} -gt 200 ]; then
+    error "Package description is too long (>200)"
+    fail_check
+  fi
+
+  local desc_lower="${DESC,,}"
+  local line_num=0
+
+  if [[ "${DESC}" == *"contains"* ]] || [[ "${DESC}" == *"provides"* ]]; then
+    warn "Avoid using words such as \"contains\" or \"provides\" in the package description"
+    add_warning
+  fi
+
+  if type INSTALL &>/dev/null; then
+    for v in "${bad_vars[@]}"; do
+      if type INSTALL | grep "${v}" &> /dev/null; then
+        error "${v} used in the install script"
+        fail_check
+      fi
+    done
+  fi
+
+  while read l; do
+    line_num=$((line_num+1))
+
+    for v in "${bad_vars[@]}"; do
+      if echo "${l}" | grep "${v}" &> /dev/null; then
+        warn "${v} used without parenthesis on line ${line_num}"
+        add_warning
+      fi
+    done
+
+    if echo "${l}" | grep '&&' | grep -v 'cd ..' &> /dev/null; then
+      warn "Unreliable use of \"&&\" on line ${line_num}"
+      add_warning
+    fi
+  done < "${sourcepath}/pkg.sh"
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+
+  info "Checking the changes file"
+  set_indent
+
+  if [ ! -f "${sourcepath}/changes.md" ]; then
+    error "Package does not contain a changes file"
+    fail_check
+  fi
+
+  if ! grep -q . "${sourcepath}/changes.md"; then
+    warn "Changes file is empty"
+    add_warning
+  fi
+
+  success "Check was completed"
+  unset_indent
+}
+
+#################
+## main script ##
+#################
+if [ -z "${1}" ]; then
+  error "Please specify a package archive or source directory"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ ! -f "${1}" ] && [ ! -d "${1}" ]; then
+  error "Specified path is invalid"
+  exit 1
+fi
+
+if [ -f "${1}" ]; then
+  archivepath="$(realpath "${1}")"
+  check_archive
+elif [ -d "${1}" ]; then
+  sourcepath="$(realpath "${1}")"
+  check_source
+fi
+
+success_check