diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 80ff1e3a..1fcb30d7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -280,6 +280,16 @@ If you're upgrading from the Claude Code SDK (versions < 0.1.0), please see the
 - Settings isolation and explicit control
 - New programmatic subagents and session forking features
 
+## Development
+
+If you're contributing to this project, run the initial setup script to install git hooks:
+
+```bash
+./scripts/initial-setup.sh
+```
+
+This installs a pre-push hook that runs lint checks before pushing, matching the CI workflow. To skip the hook temporarily, use `git push --no-verify`.
+
 ## License
 
 MIT
diff --git a/scripts/initial-setup.sh b/scripts/initial-setup.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..de6ff607
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/initial-setup.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Initial setup script for installing git hooks
+
+set -e
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
+
+echo "Setting up git hooks..."
+
+# Install pre-push hook
+echo "→ Installing pre-push hook..."
+cp "$SCRIPT_DIR/pre-push" "$REPO_ROOT/.git/hooks/pre-push"
+chmod +x "$REPO_ROOT/.git/hooks/pre-push"
+echo "✓ pre-push hook installed"
+
+echo ""
+echo "✓ Setup complete!"
+echo ""
+echo "The pre-push hook will now run lint checks before each push."
+echo "To skip the hook temporarily, use: git push --no-verify"
diff --git a/scripts/pre-push b/scripts/pre-push
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..f009b614
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/pre-push
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+# Pre-push hook to run lint checks (matches .github/workflows/lint.yml)
+
+echo "Running lint checks before push..."
+echo ""
+
+# Run ruff check
+echo "→ Running ruff check..."
+python -m ruff check src/ tests/
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "❌ ruff check failed. Fix lint issues before pushing."
+    echo "   Run: python -m ruff check src/ tests/ --fix"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+# Run ruff format check
+echo "→ Running ruff format check..."
+python -m ruff format --check src/ tests/
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then
+    echo ""
+    echo "❌ ruff format check failed. Fix formatting before pushing."
+    echo "   Run: python -m ruff format src/ tests/"
+    exit 1
+fi
+
+echo ""
+echo "✓ All lint checks passed!"
+exit 0