diff --git a/lua5.1-tests/README.md b/lua5.1-tests/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a902cacaaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua5.1-tests/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Lua 5.1 Test Suite
+
+This directory contains a modified version of the Lua 5.1 test suite. The modifications are primarily to disable or amend some tests 
+so that the test suite can be run. 
+
+## Running the test suite
+
+You need to have `luajit` on your path.
+
+On UNIX systems just execute:
+```
+./run.sh
+```
+
+## Tests disabled or ignored
+Wherever tests have been switched off or ignored a comment has been added and the code has been made conditional. These failures will
+be investigated and either the tests will be modified or permanently disabled depending upon whether the issue is one of compatibility 
+or a defect in LuaJIT. 
+
+Example of excluded test:
+```
+if not jit then
+  -- FIXME tests fail in LuaJIT
+  dofile('main.lua')
+end
+```