diff --git a/chertex.sh b/chertex.sh
index c6eedf2..34f9bd0 100755
--- a/chertex.sh
+++ b/chertex.sh
@@ -9,6 +9,9 @@
 # in the directory of the Rnw file
 ####################################################
 
+# keep track of runtime of entire script
+starttime=$(date +%s)
+
 clear
 echo "-----------------------------------------------------------------------"
 echo "cheRTeX -- a script for processing R--Sweave/knitr--LaTeX/TikZ projects"
@@ -271,8 +274,14 @@ fi
 # "job completed" block below.
 cetcest=$(date +%Z)
 
+# keep track of runtime of entire script
+endtime=$(date +%s)
+runtime=$(( $endtime - $starttime ))
+
 echo "-------------------------------------"
-echo "===      chertex.sh completed     ==="
+# the padding for runtime makes the formatting work
+# three digits for seconds is enough for just above 15 minutes
+printf "=== chertex.sh completed in %03d s ===\n" $runtime
 if [[ $cetcest == "CET" ]]; then
 	echo "=== $(date)  ==="
 else