diff --git a/guix/build/utils.scm b/guix/build/utils.scm
index 676a0120e3..16406930b5 100644
--- a/guix/build/utils.scm
+++ b/guix/build/utils.scm
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ (define-module (guix build utils)
             ar-file?
             with-directory-excursion
             mkdir-p
+            install-file
             copy-recursively
             delete-file-recursively
             file-name-predicate
@@ -197,6 +198,12 @@ (define not-slash
                  (apply throw args))))))
       (() #t))))
 
+(define (install-file file directory)
+  "Create DIRECTORY if it does not exist and copy FILE in there under the same
+name."
+  (mkdir-p directory)
+  (copy-file file (string-append directory "/" (basename file))))
+
 (define* (copy-recursively source destination
                            #:key
                            (log (current-output-port))