diff --git a/scripts/query_llm.py b/scripts/query_llm.py
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..623e6a26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/query_llm.py
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+"""Simple CLI to hit the local LLM /v1/query endpoint."""
+
+import argparse
+import os
+import sys
+from time import perf_counter
+
+import requests
+
+DEFAULT_URL = os.getenv("LLM_URL", "http://localhost:8080/v1/query/")
+
+
+def main() -> int:
+    """Entry point to this tool."""
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
+        description="Send a query to a local LLM endpoint."
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--query",
+        default="Say Hello",
+        help="User query text. Defaults to 'Say Hello'.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--system-prompt",
+        default="You are a helpful assistant",
+        help="System prompt sent along with the query.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--url",
+        default=DEFAULT_URL,
+        help=f"Endpoint URL. Defaults to env LLM_URL or {DEFAULT_URL!r}.",
+    )
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--timeout",
+        type=float,
+        default=30,
+        help="Request timeout in seconds (default: 30).",
+    )
+    args = parser.parse_args()
+
+    payload = {"query": args.query, "system_prompt": args.system_prompt}
+
+    t0 = perf_counter()
+    try:
+        resp = requests.post(url=args.url, json=payload, timeout=args.timeout)
+        elapsed = perf_counter() - t0
+        resp.raise_for_status()
+    except requests.exceptions.RequestException as e:
+        elapsed = perf_counter() - t0
+        print(f"Request failed after {elapsed:.2f}s: {e}", file=sys.stderr)
+        return 1
+
+    try:
+        obj = resp.json()
+    except ValueError:
+        print("Server response is not valid JSON.", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(resp.text[:1000], file=sys.stderr)
+        return 2
+
+    if "response" not in obj:
+        print("JSON is missing 'response' field:", file=sys.stderr)
+        print(obj, file=sys.stderr)
+        return 3
+
+    print(obj["response"])
+    print(f"Response time {elapsed:.2f} seconds")
+    return 0
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    raise SystemExit(main())