diff --git a/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py b/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py
index 0e9708a3c3..a116e2bed2 100644
--- a/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py
+++ b/lib/spack/llnl/util/filesystem.py
@@ -63,7 +63,8 @@
     'touchp',
     'traverse_tree',
     'unset_executable_mode',
-    'working_dir'
+    'working_dir',
+    'keep_modification_time'
 ]
 
 
@@ -1819,3 +1820,24 @@ def remove_directory_contents(dir):
                 os.unlink(entry)
             else:
                 shutil.rmtree(entry)
+
+
+@contextmanager
+def keep_modification_time(*filenames):
+    """
+    Context manager to keep the modification timestamps of the input files.
+    Tolerates and has no effect on non-existent files and files that are
+    deleted by the nested code.
+
+    Parameters:
+        *filenames: one or more files that must have their modification
+            timestamps unchanged
+    """
+    mtimes = {}
+    for f in filenames:
+        if os.path.exists(f):
+            mtimes[f] = os.path.getmtime(f)
+    yield
+    for f, mtime in mtimes.items():
+        if os.path.exists(f):
+            os.utime(f, (os.path.getatime(f), mtime))
diff --git a/lib/spack/spack/test/llnl/util/filesystem.py b/lib/spack/spack/test/llnl/util/filesystem.py
index 8f64c0907f..5733be6b59 100644
--- a/lib/spack/spack/test/llnl/util/filesystem.py
+++ b/lib/spack/spack/test/llnl/util/filesystem.py
@@ -588,3 +588,24 @@ def test_content_of_files_with_same_name(tmpdir):
     # and have not been mixed
     assert file1.read().strip() == 'file1'
     assert file2.read().strip() == 'file2'
+
+
+def test_keep_modification_time(tmpdir):
+    file1 = tmpdir.ensure('file1')
+    file2 = tmpdir.ensure('file2')
+
+    # Shift the modification time of the file 10 seconds back:
+    mtime1 = file1.mtime() - 10
+    file1.setmtime(mtime1)
+
+    with fs.keep_modification_time(file1.strpath,
+                                   file2.strpath,
+                                   'non-existing-file'):
+        file1.write('file1')
+        file2.remove()
+
+    # Assert that the modifications took place the modification time has not
+    # changed;
+    assert file1.read().strip() == 'file1'
+    assert not file2.exists()
+    assert int(mtime1) == int(file1.mtime())