diff --git a/get_sources.sh b/get_sources.sh
index b43cb51..5533cfe 100755
--- a/get_sources.sh
+++ b/get_sources.sh
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ fi
 #parse command line args
 BRANCH=''
 QUIET=''
+CHECK=0
 while (($# > 0))
 do
   case $1 in
@@ -32,6 +33,11 @@ do
         surl=$2
         shift 2
         ;;
+    --check)
+        #verify the sha1sum of the downloaded file
+        CHECK=1
+        shift
+        ;;
      -q)
         # Be less chatty
         QUIET='--silent'
@@ -103,5 +109,12 @@ while read -r fsha fname ; do
     else
       echo "${fname} exists. skipping"
     fi
+    if [ ${CHECK} -eq 1 ]; then
+        downsum=$(sha1sum ${fname} | awk '{print $1}')
+        if [ ${fsha} != ${downsum} ]; then
+            rm -f ${fname}
+            echo "failed to download ${fname}" >&2
+        fi
+    fi
   fi
 done < "${meta}"