diff --git a/make/rpmdist.mk b/make/rpmdist.mk
index 8b6fce4d..f1a09257 100644
--- a/make/rpmdist.mk
+++ b/make/rpmdist.mk
@@ -77,7 +77,8 @@ rpm-build: config rpmbuild.dist
 rpm-install: config rpminstall.dist
 rpm-reinstall: rpm-uninstall rpm-clean rpm-install
 rpm-rebuild: rpm-clean rpm-build
-
+rpm-update: rpmupdate.dist
+	
 clean.rpm:
 	rm -rf $(DIST_DIR) *.dist CURRENT_RPM_SRC
 
@@ -146,6 +147,13 @@ rpminstall.dist: $(DIST_PCKG_RPM)
 	done
 	touch $@
 
+rpmupdate.dist: $(DIST_PCKG_RPM)
+	@set -e; for p in $^; do \
+		echo + updating $$p ;\
+		sudo /bin/rpm -U --replacepkgs --replacefiles $$p; \
+	done
+	touch $@
+
 rpmuninstall.dist:
 	@set -e; for s in devel run; do \
 		if /bin/rpm -q $(RPM_PROJECT)-$$s > /dev/null 2>&1 ; then \