diff --git a/readthedocs/config/config.py b/readthedocs/config/config.py
index a36d42fa53e..124afd1a2f3 100644
--- a/readthedocs/config/config.py
+++ b/readthedocs/config/config.py
@@ -790,6 +790,11 @@ def validate_build_config_with_tools(self):
                     BuildJobs.__slots__,
                 )
 
+        commands = []
+        with self.catch_validation_error("build.commands"):
+            commands = self.pop_config("build.commands")
+            validate_list(commands)
+
         if not tools:
             self.error(
                 key='build.tools',
@@ -801,6 +806,13 @@ def validate_build_config_with_tools(self):
                 code=CONFIG_REQUIRED,
             )
 
+        if commands and jobs:
+            self.error(
+                key="build.commands",
+                message="The keys build.jobs and build.commands can't be used together.",
+                code=INVALID_KEYS_COMBINATION,
+            )
+
         build["jobs"] = {}
         for job, commands in jobs.items():
             with self.catch_validation_error(f"build.jobs.{job}"):
@@ -808,6 +820,11 @@ def validate_build_config_with_tools(self):
                     validate_string(command) for command in validate_list(commands)
                 ]
 
+        build["commands"] = []
+        for command in commands:
+            with self.catch_validation_error("build.commands"):
+                build["commands"].append(validate_string(command))
+
         build['tools'] = {}
         for tool, version in tools.items():
             with self.catch_validation_error(f'build.tools.{tool}'):
@@ -1292,6 +1309,7 @@ def build(self):
                 os=build['os'],
                 tools=tools,
                 jobs=BuildJobs(**build["jobs"]),
+                commands=build["commands"],
                 apt_packages=build["apt_packages"],
             )
         return Build(**build)
diff --git a/readthedocs/config/models.py b/readthedocs/config/models.py
index fa64ab983ef..864d670f099 100644
--- a/readthedocs/config/models.py
+++ b/readthedocs/config/models.py
@@ -37,10 +37,11 @@ def __init__(self, **kwargs):
 
 class BuildWithTools(Base):
 
-    __slots__ = ("os", "tools", "jobs", "apt_packages")
+    __slots__ = ("os", "tools", "jobs", "apt_packages", "commands")
 
     def __init__(self, **kwargs):
-        kwargs.setdefault('apt_packages', [])
+        kwargs.setdefault("apt_packages", [])
+        kwargs.setdefault("commands", [])
         super().__init__(**kwargs)
 
 
diff --git a/readthedocs/doc_builder/director.py b/readthedocs/doc_builder/director.py
index ced8621d7a1..5b2cb1bd29d 100644
--- a/readthedocs/doc_builder/director.py
+++ b/readthedocs/doc_builder/director.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import shutil
 from collections import defaultdict
 
 import structlog
@@ -335,6 +336,24 @@ def run_build_job(self, job):
         for command in commands:
             environment.run(*command.split(), escape_command=False, cwd=cwd)
 
+    def run_build_commands(self):
+        cwd = self.data.project.checkout_path(self.data.version.slug)
+        environment = self.vcs_environment
+        for command in self.data.config.build.commands:
+            environment.run(*command.split(), escape_command=False, cwd=cwd)
+
+        # Copy files to artifacts path so they are uploaded to S3
+        target = self.data.project.artifact_path(
+            version=self.data.version.slug,
+            type_="sphinx",
+        )
+        artifacts_path = os.path.join(cwd, "output")
+        shutil.copytree(
+            artifacts_path,
+            target,
+            # ignore=shutil.ignore_patterns(*self.ignore_patterns),
+        )
+
     # Helpers
     #
     # TODO: move somewhere or change names to make them private or something to
diff --git a/readthedocs/projects/tasks/builds.py b/readthedocs/projects/tasks/builds.py
index 0027278f6ca..f7692b8fdf2 100644
--- a/readthedocs/projects/tasks/builds.py
+++ b/readthedocs/projects/tasks/builds.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 """
 import signal
 import socket
+from collections import defaultdict
 
 import structlog
 from celery import Task
@@ -595,6 +596,16 @@ def execute(self):
         # ``__exit__``
         self.data.build_director.create_build_environment()
         with self.data.build_director.build_environment:
+
+            # NOTE: check if the build uses `build.commands` and only run those
+            if self.data.config.build.commands:
+                self.update_build(state=BUILD_STATE_BUILDING)
+                self.data.build_director.run_build_commands()
+
+                self.data.outcomes = defaultdict(lambda: False)
+                self.data.outcomes["html"] = True
+                return
+
             # Installing
             self.update_build(state=BUILD_STATE_INSTALLING)
             self.data.build_director.setup_environment()