diff --git a/install_links.py b/install_links.py
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..c17b697
--- /dev/null
+++ b/install_links.py
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+"""Create a symlink or a copy of an installed file."""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import shutil
+
+
+def main():
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser()
+    parser.add_argument('bindir')
+    parser.add_argument('source')
+    parser.add_argument('dest', nargs='+')
+    parser.add_argument('--use-links', action='store_true')
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    os.chdir(os.environ['MESON_INSTALL_DESTDIR_PREFIX'])
+    os.chdir(args.bindir)
+
+    # Windows doesn't really use symlinks, just copy in that case. Windows
+    # before vista (xp) doesn't have symlinks at all.
+    if args.use_links:
+        func = os.symlink
+        verb = 'Linking'
+    else:
+        func = shutil.copy
+        verb = 'Copying'
+
+    # at least os.symlink will fail if the destination already exists, just
+    # remove the dest if it already exists.
+    for dest in args.dest:
+        if os.path.exists(dest):
+            os.unlink(dest)
+
+        func(args.source, dest)
+        print('{} {} to {}'.format(verb, args.source, dest))
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 684d1ad..96d5a06 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -101,6 +101,19 @@ install_data(
   install_mode : 'rwxr-xr-x',
 )
 
+## Create aliases. Use links if possible, but copies if not.
+# Copies are mainly meant for windows, which doesn't have symlinks.
+bindir = get_option('bindir')
+targets = [['bzmore', 'bzless'], ['bzdiff', 'bzcmp'], ['bzgrep', 'bzegrep', 'bzfgrep'],
+           ['bzip2', 'bunzip2', 'bzcat']]
+extra_args = []
+if host_machine.system() != 'windows' and build_machine.system() != 'windows'
+  extra_args = '--use-links'
+endif
+foreach t : targets
+  meson.add_install_script('install_links.py', get_option('bindir'), t, extra_args)
+endforeach
+
 ## Generate pkg-config automaically from built library information
 pkg = import('pkgconfig')
 pkg.generate(