diff --git a/tools/split_benchmark.lua b/tools/split_benchmark.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..f8c4c20b14
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/split_benchmark.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,86 @@
+-- cd gtk2_ardour; ./arlua < ../tools/split_benchmark.lua
+
+reclen = 30 -- seconds
+
+backend = AudioEngine:set_backend("None (Dummy)", "", "")
+backend:set_device_name ("Uniform White Noise")
+
+os.execute('rm -rf /tmp/luabench')
+s = create_session ("/tmp/luabench", "luabench", 48000)
+assert (s)
+
+s:new_audio_track (1, 2, nil, 16, "",  ARDOUR.PresentationInfo.max_order, ARDOUR.TrackMode.Normal)
+
+for t in s:get_tracks():iter() do
+	t:rec_enable_control():set_value(1, PBD.GroupControlDisposition.UseGroup)
+end
+
+ARDOUR.LuaAPI.usleep (100000)
+
+s:goto_start()
+s:maybe_enable_record()
+
+s:request_transport_speed(1.0, true, 4)
+ARDOUR.LuaAPI.usleep (1000000 * reclen)
+s:request_transport_speed(0.0, false, 4)
+
+for t in s:get_tracks():iter() do
+	t:rec_enable_control():set_value(0, PBD.GroupControlDisposition.UseGroup)
+end
+
+ARDOUR.LuaAPI.usleep (100000)
+
+s:goto_start()
+s:save_state("")
+
+function split_at (pos)
+	local add_undo = false -- keep track if something has changed
+	Session:begin_reversible_command ("Auto Region Split")
+	for route in Session:get_tracks():iter() do
+		local playlist = route:to_track():playlist ()
+		playlist:to_stateful ():clear_changes ()
+		for region in playlist:regions_at (pos):iter () do
+			playlist:split_region (region, ARDOUR.MusicSample (pos, 0))
+		end
+		if not Session:add_stateful_diff_command (playlist:to_statefuldestructible ()):empty () then
+			add_undo = true
+		end
+	end
+	if add_undo then
+		Session:commit_reversible_command (nil)
+	else
+		Session:abort_reversible_command ()
+	end
+end
+
+function count_regions ()
+	local total = 0
+	for route in Session:get_tracks():iter() do
+		total = total + route:to_track():playlist():region_list():size()
+	end
+	return total
+end
+
+stepsize = Session:samples_per_timecode_frame()
+fps = Session:nominal_sample_rate () / stepsize
+n_steps = 10
+cnt = reclen * fps / n_steps
+
+for x = 2, cnt do
+	local playhead = Session:transport_sample ()
+
+	local t_start = ARDOUR.LuaAPI.monotonic_time ()
+	for i = 1, n_steps do
+		split_at (playhead + stepsize * i)
+	end
+	local t_end = ARDOUR.LuaAPI.monotonic_time ()
+
+	Session:request_locate((playhead + stepsize * n_steps), false, 5)
+	print (count_regions (), (t_end - t_start) / 1000 / n_steps)
+	collectgarbage ();
+	ARDOUR.LuaAPI.usleep(500000)
+end
+
+s:save_state("")
+close_session()
+quit()