diff --git a/osx/auto-update/auto-update.h b/osx/auto-update/auto-update.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..14caa32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osx/auto-update/auto-update.h
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#ifndef AUTO_UPDATE_H
+#define AUTO_UPDATE_H
+class AutoUpdate
+{
+  public:
+    virtual void checkForUpdates() = 0;
+};
+#endif
diff --git a/osx/auto-update/sparkle-auto-update.h b/osx/auto-update/sparkle-auto-update.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9050bff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osx/auto-update/sparkle-auto-update.h
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#ifndef SPARKLE_AUTO_UPDATE_H
+#define SPARKLE_AUTO_UPDATE_H
+#include "auto-update.h"
+#include <QString>
+class SparkleAutoUpdate : public AutoUpdate
+{
+public:
+  SparkleAutoUpdate (const QString &url);
+  ~SparkleAutoUpdate ();
+  virtual void checkForUpdates();
+private:
+  class Private;
+  Private *d;
+}
+#endif
diff --git a/osx/auto-update/sparkle-auto-update.mm b/osx/auto-update/sparkle-auto-update.mm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..be49b55
--- /dev/null
+++ b/osx/auto-update/sparkle-auto-update.mm
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#include "sparkle-auto-update.h"
+#import <Sparkle/Sparkle.h>
+
+class SparkleAutoUpdate::Private
+{
+  public:
+    SUUpdater *updater;
+};
+
+SparkleAutoUpdate::SparkleAutoUpdate(const QString &updateUrl)
+{
+  d = new Private;
+  d->updater = [SUUpdater sharedUpdater];
+  [d->updater setAutomaticallyChecksForUpdates:YES];
+  NSURL *url = [NSURL URLWithString: [NSString stringWithUTF8String: updateUrl.toUtf8().data()]];
+  [d->updater setFeedURL: url];
+}
+
+SparkleAutoUpdate::~SparkleAutoUpdate()
+{
+  delete d;
+  // presummably SUUpdater handles garbage collection
+}
+
+void SparkleAutoUpdate::checkForUpdates()
+{
+  [d->updater checkForUpdatesInBackground];
+}