diff --git a/meson.build b/meson.build
index 3be8f8d..224792e 100644
--- a/meson.build
+++ b/meson.build
@@ -1,16 +1,19 @@
 project('com.github.writeas.writeas-gtk', ['vala', 'c'],
     version: '1.0.1',
     license: 'GPL',
     meson_version: '>=0.40.1')
 
 i18n = import('i18n')
 conf = configuration_data()
 conf.set_quoted('GETTEXT_PACKAGE', meson.project_name())
 configure_file(output: 'config.h', configuration: conf)
 config_h_dir = include_directories('.')
 
 run_target('build', command: 'build-cli.sh')
 
 subdir('data')
 subdir('src')
 subdir('fonts/lora')
+
+meson.add_install_script('meson/post_install.py')
+
diff --git a/meson/post_install.py b/meson/post_install.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7634127
--- /dev/null
+++ b/meson/post_install.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python3
+
+import os
+import subprocess
+
+prefix = os.environ.get('MESON_INSTALL_PREFIX', '/usr/local')
+datadir = os.path.join(prefix, 'share')
+
+# Packaging tools define DESTDIR and this isn't needed for them
+if 'DESTDIR' not in os.environ:
+    print('Updating icon cache...')
+    icon_cache_dir = os.path.join(datadir, 'icons', 'hicolor')
+    if not os.path.exists(icon_cache_dir):
+        os.makedirs(icon_cache_dir)
+    subprocess.call(['gtk-update-icon-cache', '-qtf', icon_cache_dir])
+
+    print('Updating desktop database...')
+    desktop_database_dir = os.path.join(datadir, 'applications')
+    if not os.path.exists(desktop_database_dir):
+        os.makedirs(desktop_database_dir)
+    subprocess.call(['update-desktop-database', '-q', desktop_database_dir])
+