diff --git a/migrate_root_metadata_to_redis.rb b/migrate_root_metadata_to_redis.rb
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..98b3a27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/migrate_root_metadata_to_redis.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env ruby
+
+require "rubygems"
+require "bundler/setup"
+require "rest_client"
+require "redis"
+require "yaml"
+require "logger"
+require "active_support/core_ext/hash"
+
+class Migrator
+
+  attr_accessor :username, :base_url, :swift_host, :swift_token,
+                :environment, :dry_run, :settings, :logger
+
+  def initialize(username)
+    @username = username
+
+    @environment = ENV["ENVIRONMENT"] || "staging"
+    @settings = YAML.load(File.read('config.yml'))[@environment]
+
+    @swift_host = @settings["swift"]["host"]
+    @swift_token = File.read("tmp/swift_token.txt").strip
+
+    @dry_run = ENV["DRYRUN"] || false # disables writing anything to Redis when true
+
+    @logger = Logger.new("log/migrate_root_metadata_to_redis.log")
+    log_level = ENV["LOGLEVEL"] || "INFO"
+    logger.level = Kernel.const_get "Logger::#{log_level}"
+    logger.progname = username
+  end
+
+  def root_url
+    "#{@base_url}/#{@username}"
+  end
+
+  def migrate
+    logger.info "Starting migration for '#{username}'"
+    begin
+      work_on_dir("")
+    rescue Exception => ex
+      logger.error "Error migrating metadata for '#{username}': #{ex}"
+      # write username to file for later reference
+      File.open('log/failed_root_migration.log', 'a') { |f| f.puts username }
+      exit 1
+    end
+    logger.info "Finished migration for '#{username}'"
+  end
+
+  def work_on_dir(directory)
+    logger.debug "Retrieving root metadata for '#{username}'"
+
+    response = do_head_request("#{container_url_for(@username)}")
+
+    save_root_directory_data(response)
+  end
+
+  def save_root_directory_data(response)
+    key = "rs:m:#{username}:/"
+
+    metadata = {
+      e: etag_for(response.headers[:x_timestamp], response.headers[:x_trans_id]),
+      m: (response.headers[:x_timestamp].to_f * 1000).to_i
+    }
+
+    logger.debug "Metadata for dir #{key}: #{metadata}"
+    redis.hmset(key, *metadata) unless dry_run
+  end
+
+  def etag_for(*args)
+    Digest::MD5.hexdigest args.join(":")
+  end
+
+  def redis
+    @redis ||= Redis.new(@settings["redis"].symbolize_keys)
+  end
+
+  def do_head_request(url, &block)
+    RestClient.head(url, default_headers, &block)
+  end
+
+  def default_headers
+    {"x-auth-token" => @swift_token}
+  end
+
+  def container_url_for(user)
+    "#{base_url}/#{container_for(user)}"
+  end
+
+  def base_url
+    @base_url ||= @swift_host
+  end
+
+  def container_for(user)
+    "rs:#{environment.to_s.chars.first}:#{user}"
+  end
+end
+
+username = ARGV[0]
+
+unless username
+  puts "No username given."
+  puts "Usage:"
+  puts "ENVIRONMENT=staging ./migrate_root_metadata_to_redis.rb <username>"
+  exit 1
+end
+
+migrator = Migrator.new username
+migrator.migrate
+