diff --git a/plat/unix/update_tags.sh b/plat/unix/update_tags.sh
index 9c1a24b..fc9178b 100755
--- a/plat/unix/update_tags.sh
+++ b/plat/unix/update_tags.sh
@@ -99,7 +99,13 @@ if [ -f "$TAGS_FILE" ]; then
     if [ "$UPDATED_SOURCE" != "" ]; then
         echo "Removing references to: $UPDATED_SOURCE"
         tab="	"
-        cmd="grep --text -Ev '^[^$tab]+$tab$UPDATED_SOURCE$tab' '$TAGS_FILE' > '$TAGS_FILE.temp'"
+        # use ripgrep if available
+        if command -v rg > /dev/null 2>&1; then
+            GREP_CMD="rg --no-config"
+        else 
+            GREP_CMD="grep -E"
+        fi
+        cmd="${GREP_CMD} --text -v '^[^$tab]+$tab$UPDATED_SOURCE$tab' '$TAGS_FILE' > '$TAGS_FILE.temp'"
         echo "$cmd"
         eval "$cmd" || true
         INDEX_WHOLE_PROJECT=0