diff --git a/scripts/run_cass_and_test.sh b/scripts/run_cass_and_test.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000000..361a453d7ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run_cass_and_test.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -eo pipefail
+
+function finish {
+  echo "shut down containers"
+  docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose.yml down;
+}
+trap finish EXIT
+
+# shut down containers
+docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose.yml down;
+
+# run cassandra container
+docker-compose -f docker/docker-compose.yml up -d cassandra;
+
+# run the tests with cassandra
+CASSANDRA=1 make test | tee test.log;