diff --git a/qt/po/scripts/rewrite-refs.py b/qt/po/scripts/rewrite-refs.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..9a7e5f166
--- /dev/null
+++ b/qt/po/scripts/rewrite-refs.py
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env python
+
+import glob, re, json, stringcase
+
+files = (
+    # glob.glob("../../pylib/**/*.py", recursive=True) +
+    glob.glob("../../qt/**/*.py", recursive=True)
+)
+string_re = re.compile(r'_\(\s*(".*?")\s*\)')
+
+map = json.load(open("keys_by_text.json"))
+
+# unused or missing strings
+blacklist = {
+    "Label1",
+    "After pressing OK, you can choose which tags to include.",
+    "Filter/Cram",
+    # previewer.py needs updating to fix these
+    "Shortcut key: R",
+    "Shortcut key: B",
+}
+
+
+def repl(m):
+    # the argument may consistent of multiple strings that need merging together
+    text = eval(m.group(1))
+
+    if text in blacklist:
+        return m.group(0)
+
+    (module, key) = map[text]
+    screaming = stringcase.constcase(key)
+    print(screaming)
+
+    if "%d" in text or "%s" in text:
+        # replace { $val } with %s for compat with old code
+        return f'tr(TR.{screaming}, val="%s")'
+
+    return f"tr(TR.{screaming})"
+
+
+for file in files:
+    if file.endswith("stats.py"):
+        continue
+    buf = open(file).read()
+    buf2 = string_re.sub(repl, buf)
+    if buf != buf2:
+        lines = buf2.split("\n")
+        lines.insert(3, "from aqt.utils import tr, TR")
+        buf2 = "\n".join(lines)
+        open(file, "w").write(buf2)