diff --git a/check_cups b/check_cups
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..b5cab92b7dd8f426836788b4870fc5cca40df211
--- /dev/null
+++ b/check_cups
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+#
+# Check that the oldest entry in the CUPS queue is new enough.
+#
+# Usage: check_cups queue
+
+import os
+import time
+
+def check_queue(queue):
+    now = time.time()
+    worst_age = 0
+    worst_user = None
+    ctr = 0
+
+    for line in os.popen("lpstat -o %s" % queue):
+	ctr = ctr + 1
+        qid, who, size, when = line.strip().split(None, 3)
+	age = now - time.mktime(time.strptime(when, "%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Y"))
+	if age > worst_age:
+	    worst_age = age
+	    worst_user = who
+
+    if worst_age > 300:
+	print "CRITICAL - %d jobs, %.1f minutes, oldest %s" % (
+	    ctr, worst_age/60, worst_user)
+	sys.exit(2)
+    elif worst_age > 60:
+	print "WARNING - %d jobs, %.1f minutes, oldest %s" % (
+	    ctr, worst_age/60, worst_user)
+	sys.exit(1)
+    elif ctr == 0:
+	print "OK - empty queue"
+	sys.exit(0)
+    else:
+	print "OK - %d jobs in queue, oldest is %.1f seconds old" % (
+            ctr, worst_age)
+	sys.exit(0)
+	
+    
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    import sys
+    check_queue(sys.argv[1])
diff --git a/check_saned b/check_saned
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..362f0c8744b03fc869960dfd3e886fca16b5adc4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/check_saned
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#
+# usage: check_saned pattern
+#
+# This script will run "scanimage -L" and grep for the supplied pattern.
+#
+# FIXME: since scanners in use are not included in the list produced
+# by "scanimage -L", the state should be OK if the scanner was seen
+# within the last hour, and WARNING if it was seen within the last
+# day.
+
+TMPFILE=`tempfile`
+scanimage -L > $TMPFILE 2>&1
+if [ $? -ne 0 ]
+then
+    echo CRITICAL - scanimage failed - "`cat /tmp/scanimage.$$`"
+    rm $TMPFILE
+    exit 2
+fi
+
+grep "$1" $TMPFILE >/dev/null 2>&1
+RC=$?
+
+if [ $RC -ne 0 ]
+then
+    echo CRITICAL - scanner not found
+    rm $TMPFILE
+    exit 2
+fi
+rm $TMPFILE
+echo OK - all fine
+exit 0