diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 58c7098c3..32a39307b 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ export(use_git)
 export(use_git_hook)
 export(use_github)
 export(use_github_links)
+export(use_mit_license)
 export(use_package)
 export(use_package_doc)
 export(use_rcpp)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 19f29452b..d06d57621 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,9 @@
 # devtools 1.9.1.9000
 
+* Added `use_mit_license()`, which writes the necessary infrastructure to
+  declare and release an R package under the MIT license in a CRAN-compliant
+  way. (#995, @kevinushey)
+
 * Be more verbose about which package is installed for revdep check
   (#926, @krlmlr).
 
diff --git a/R/infrastructure.R b/R/infrastructure.R
index d0ef48f19..c7e58acfd 100644
--- a/R/infrastructure.R
+++ b/R/infrastructure.R
@@ -625,3 +625,36 @@ use_cran_badge <- function(pkg = ".") {
   )
   invisible(TRUE)
 }
+
+#' @rdname infrastructure
+#' @section \code{use_mit_license}:
+#' Adds the necessary infrastructure to declare your package as
+#' distributed under the MIT license.
+#' @param copyright_holder The copyright holder for this package. Defaults to
+#'   \code{getOption("devtools.name")}.
+#' @export
+use_mit_license <- function(pkg = ".", copyright_holder = getOption("devtools.name", "<Author>")) {
+  pkg <- as.package(pkg)
+
+  # Update the DESCRIPTION
+  descPath <- file.path(pkg$path, "DESCRIPTION")
+  DESCRIPTION <- read_dcf(descPath)
+  DESCRIPTION$License <- "MIT + file LICENSE"
+  write_dcf(descPath, DESCRIPTION)
+
+  # Update the license
+  licensePath <- file.path(pkg$path, "LICENSE")
+  if (file.exists(licensePath))
+    if (!file.remove(licensePath))
+      stop("Failed to remove license file '", licensePath, "'", call. = FALSE)
+
+  # Write the MIT template
+  template <- c(
+    paste("YEAR:", format(Sys.Date(), "%Y")),
+    paste("COPYRIGHT HOLDER:", copyright_holder)
+  )
+
+  writeLines(template, con = licensePath)
+  message("* Added infrastructure for MIT license")
+  licensePath
+}
diff --git a/man/infrastructure.Rd b/man/infrastructure.Rd
index 1bb7abedf..8c3f1437d 100644
--- a/man/infrastructure.Rd
+++ b/man/infrastructure.Rd
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 \alias{use_coverage}
 \alias{use_cran_badge}
 \alias{use_cran_comments}
+\alias{use_mit_license}
 \alias{use_package_doc}
 \alias{use_rcpp}
 \alias{use_revdep}
@@ -45,6 +46,9 @@ use_cran_comments(pkg = ".")
 use_code_of_conduct(pkg = ".")
 
 use_cran_badge(pkg = ".")
+
+use_mit_license(pkg = ".", copyright_holder = getOption("devtools.name",
+  "<Author>"))
 }
 \arguments{
 \item{pkg}{package description, can be path or package name. See
@@ -54,6 +58,9 @@ use_cran_badge(pkg = ".")
 numbers, letters, _ and -. I recommend using lower case.}
 
 \item{type}{CI tool to use. Currently supports codecov and coverall.}
+
+\item{copyright_holder}{The copyright holder for this package. Defaults to
+\code{getOption("devtools.name")}.}
 }
 \description{
 Add useful infrastructure to a package.
@@ -132,6 +139,12 @@ Add a code of conduct to from \url{http://contributor-covenant.org}.
 
 Add a badge to show CRAN status and version number on the README
 }
+
+\section{\code{use_mit_license}}{
+
+Adds the necessary infrastructure to declare your package as
+distributed under the MIT license.
+}
 \seealso{
 Other infrastructure: \code{\link{use_build_ignore}},
   \code{\link{use_data_raw}}, \code{\link{use_data}},