diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
index 77ec788b9b..6eaa7be715 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/download_strategy.rb
@@ -26,6 +26,12 @@ class AbstractDownloadStrategy
   def cached_location
   end
 
+  # @!attribute [r]
+  # return most recent modified time for all files in the current working directory after stage.
+  def source_modified_time
+    Pathname.pwd.to_enum(:find).select(&:file?).map(&:mtime).max
+  end
+
   # Remove {#cached_location} and any other files associated with the resource
   # from the cache.
   def clear_cache
@@ -555,6 +561,10 @@ class GitDownloadStrategy < VCSDownloadStrategy
     cp_r File.join(cached_location, "."), Dir.pwd
   end
 
+  def source_modified_time
+    Time.parse Utils.popen_read("git", "--git-dir", git_dir, "show", "-s", "--format=%cD")
+  end
+
   private
 
   def cache_tag