diff --git a/include/tpax/tpax.h b/include/tpax/tpax.h
index 5281ea1..c39f721 100644
--- a/include/tpax/tpax.h
+++ b/include/tpax/tpax.h
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ tpax_api int  tpax_set_driver_fdctx     (struct tpax_driver_ctx *, const struct 
 
 /* helper api */
 tpax_api int  tpax_path_copy            (char *, const char *, size_t, uint32_t, size_t *);
+tpax_api int  tpax_stat_compare         (const struct stat *, const struct stat *);
 
 /* utility api */
 tpax_api int  tpax_main                 (char **, char **,
diff --git a/project/common.mk b/project/common.mk
index ca6bc81..14d6ec8 100644
--- a/project/common.mk
+++ b/project/common.mk
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ API_SRCS = \
 	src/driver/tpax_driver_ctx.c \
 	src/driver/tpax_unit_ctx.c \
 	src/helper/tpax_path_copy.c \
+	src/helper/tpax_stat_compare.c \
 	src/logic/tpax_init_ustar_header.c \
 	src/output/tpax_output_error.c \
 	src/skin/tpax_skin_default.c \
diff --git a/src/helper/tpax_stat_compare.c b/src/helper/tpax_stat_compare.c
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..afbe2f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/helper/tpax_stat_compare.c
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+/******************************************************/
+/*  tpax: a topological pax implementation            */
+/*  Copyright (C) 2020  Z. Gilboa                     */
+/*  Released under GPLv2 and GPLv3; see COPYING.TPAX. */
+/******************************************************/
+
+#include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdlib.h>
+#include <string.h>
+#include <errno.h>
+#include <sys/stat.h>
+
+#include <tpax/tpax.h>
+#include "tpax_driver_impl.h"
+
+#define TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(member)                    \
+	if (src -> member - dst -> member)            \
+		return (src -> member > dst -> member) \
+			? (1) : (-1)
+
+int tpax_stat_compare(
+	const struct stat * src,
+	const struct stat * dst)
+{
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_dev);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_ino);
+
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_mode);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_uid);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_gid);
+
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_rdev);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_size);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_blksize);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_blocks);
+
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_mtim.tv_sec);
+	TPAX_STAT_COMPARE(st_mtim.tv_nsec);
+
+	return 0;
+}