diff --git a/mkspecs/features/copyfiles.pri b/mkspecs/features/copyfiles.pri
index 44bd77eac..67fa813b0 100644
--- a/mkspecs/features/copyfiles.pri
+++ b/mkspecs/features/copyfiles.pri
@@ -9,10 +9,12 @@ defineReplace(fileCopyDestination) {
 
 win32:isEmpty(MINGW_IN_SHELL) {
     copy_files.commands = copy /y ${QMAKE_FILE_IN} ${QMAKE_FILE_OUT}
+    TOUCH = copy /y nul
 }
 else {
     copy_files.commands = mkdir -p `dirname ${QMAKE_FILE_OUT}` && \
                           cp ${QMAKE_FILE_IN} ${QMAKE_FILE_OUT}
+    TOUCH = touch
 }
 
 QMAKE_EXTRA_COMPILERS += copy_files
@@ -21,6 +23,14 @@ QMAKE_EXTRA_COMPILERS += copy_files
 # This CONFIG should be all that is needed to add a dependency to "make all"
 # but some snafu with absolute vs. relative paths necessitates this workaround
 # with PRE_TARGETDEPS instead.
-
 #copy_files.CONFIG += target_predeps
-PRE_TARGETDEPS += compiler_copy_files_make_all
+
+copy_files_cookie.depends = compiler_copy_files_make_all
+copy_files_cookie.target = copy_files.cookie
+win32:!mingw: copy_files_cookie.commands = $$TOUCH $** && $$TOUCH $@
+else:         copy_files_cookie.commands = $$TOUCH $<  && $$TOUCH $@
+QMAKE_EXTRA_TARGETS += copy_files_cookie
+
+!isEmpty($${copy_files.input}) {
+    PRE_TARGETDEPS += $${copy_files_cookie.target}
+}