diff --git a/libpromises/evalfunction.c b/libpromises/evalfunction.c
index 9662bcd9e8..ef86d73c4b 100644
--- a/libpromises/evalfunction.c
+++ b/libpromises/evalfunction.c
@@ -7597,6 +7597,166 @@ static FnCallResult FnCallStrftime(ARG_UNUSED EvalContext *ctx,
 
 /*********************************************************************/
 
+static const char *date_paths[] = {
+    "/usr/bin/date",
+    "/bin/date",
+    NULL
+};
+
+static const char *LocateDateBinary()
+{
+    for (size_t i = 0; date_paths[i] != NULL; i++)
+    {
+        const char *path = date_paths[i];
+
+        if (IsExecutable(path))
+        {
+            return path;
+        }
+    }
+    return NULL;
+}
+
+static int ParseDate(const char *input_string, time_t *out)
+{
+    const char *date_path = LocateDateBinary();
+
+    if (date_path == NULL)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "Unable to find 'date' binary");
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    char buffer[MAX_INPUT];
+    int n = snprintf(buffer, sizeof(buffer), "--date=%s", input_string);
+
+    if (n < 0 || (size_t) n >= sizeof(buffer)) {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "Truncation error: input string '%.10s...' is too long (%d >= %zu)",
+            input_string, n, sizeof(buffer));
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    const char *argv[] = {date_path, buffer, "+%s", NULL};
+    FILE *fd = cf_popen_exact_args(argv, "r", true);
+
+    if (fd == NULL)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "Couldn't run date \"--date='%s' +%%s\"", input_string);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    size_t bytes_read = fread(buffer, 1, sizeof(buffer) - 1 , fd);
+    buffer[bytes_read] = '\0';
+
+    if (bytes_read == 0)
+    {
+        if (ferror(fd))
+        {
+            Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "Error reading output for '%s'", input_string);
+        }
+        else if (feof(fd))
+        {
+            Log(LOG_LEVEL_DEBUG, "No output read for '%s'", input_string);
+        }
+        fclose(fd);
+        return -1;
+    }
+    fclose(fd);
+
+    int ret = StringToLong(buffer, (long *) out);
+    if (ret != 0)
+    {
+        LogStringToLongError(buffer, "ParseDate", ret);
+        return -1;
+    }
+
+    return 0;
+}
+
+static FnCallResult FnCallStrToTime(ARG_UNUSED EvalContext *ctx, ARG_UNUSED const Policy *policy, const FnCall *fp, const Rlist *finalargs)
+{
+    assert(fp != NULL);
+
+    const char *input_string = RlistScalarValue(finalargs);
+    time_t result;
+    int ret = ParseDate(input_string, &result);
+
+    if (ret != 0)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "'%s': Invalid date '%s'", fp->name, input_string);
+        return FnFailure();
+    }
+
+    return FnReturnF("%ld", result);
+}
+
+/*********************************************************************/
+
+static FnCallResult FnCallFileOlderThan(ARG_UNUSED EvalContext *ctx, ARG_UNUSED const Policy *policy, const FnCall *fp, const Rlist *finalargs)
+{
+    assert(fp != NULL);
+
+    if (finalargs == NULL)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "Function '%s' requires path as first argument",
+            fp->name);
+        return FnFailure();
+    }
+    const char *filename = RlistScalarValue(finalargs);
+
+    if (finalargs->next == NULL)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "Function '%s' requires date or date offset as second argument",
+            fp->name);
+        return FnFailure();
+    }
+    const char *date = RlistScalarValue(finalargs->next);
+    const char *option = (finalargs->next->next != NULL) ? RlistScalarValue(finalargs->next->next) : "modification";
+
+    struct stat statbuf;
+
+    if (stat(filename, &statbuf) != 0)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "'%s': Couldn't stat '%s'", fp->name, filename);
+        return FnFailure();
+    }
+
+    time_t file_ts;
+
+    if (StringEqual_IgnoreCase(option, "modification") || StringEqual_IgnoreCase(option, "modif") )
+    {
+        file_ts = statbuf.st_mtime;
+    }
+    else if (StringEqual_IgnoreCase(option, "access"))
+    {
+        file_ts = statbuf.st_atime;
+    }
+    else if (StringEqual_IgnoreCase(option, "change"))
+    {
+        file_ts = statbuf.st_ctime;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        ProgrammingError("Unknown option for %s\n", fp->name);
+    }
+
+    time_t input_time;
+    int ret = ParseDate(date, &input_time);
+
+    if (ret != 0)
+    {
+        Log(LOG_LEVEL_ERR, "'%s': Couldn't parse '%s'", fp->name, date);
+        return FnFailure();
+    }
+
+    time_t now = time(NULL);
+    time_t offset = input_time - now; // convert date to an offset
+
+    return FnReturnContext(file_ts + offset <= now);
+}
+
+/*********************************************************************/
+
 static FnCallResult FnCallEval(EvalContext *ctx, ARG_UNUSED const Policy *policy, const FnCall *fp, const Rlist *finalargs)
 {
     if (finalargs == NULL)
@@ -11427,6 +11587,12 @@ static const FnCallArg STRFTIME_ARGS[] =
     {NULL, CF_DATA_TYPE_NONE, NULL}
 };
 
+static const FnCallArg STRTOTIME_ARGS[] =
+{
+    {CF_ANYSTRING, CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, "String to parse"},
+    {NULL, CF_DATA_TYPE_NONE, NULL}
+};
+
 static const FnCallArg STRING_REPLACE_ARGS[] =
 {
     {CF_ANYSTRING, CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, "Source string"},
@@ -11655,6 +11821,14 @@ static const FnCallArg ISREADABLE_ARGS[] =
     {NULL, CF_DATA_TYPE_NONE, NULL}
 };
 
+static const FnCallArg FILE_OLDER_THAN_ARGS[] =
+{
+    {CF_ABSPATHRANGE, CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, "Path to file"},
+    {CF_ANYSTRING, CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, "Date string"},
+    {"modification,modif,access,change", CF_DATA_TYPE_OPTION, "file timespec"},
+    {NULL, CF_DATA_TYPE_NONE, NULL}
+};
+
 static const FnCallArg DATATYPE_ARGS[] =
 {
     {CF_ANYSTRING, CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, "Variable identifier"},
@@ -12003,6 +12177,8 @@ const FnCallType CF_FNCALL_TYPES[] =
                   FNCALL_OPTION_NONE, FNCALL_CATEGORY_DATA, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, DEFAULT_ARGC),
     FnCallTypeNew("strftime", CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, STRFTIME_ARGS, &FnCallStrftime, "Format a date and time string",
                   FNCALL_OPTION_NONE, FNCALL_CATEGORY_DATA, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, DEFAULT_ARGC),
+    FnCallTypeNew("strtotime", CF_DATA_TYPE_INT, STRTOTIME_ARGS, &FnCallStrToTime, "Parse a timestamp from a string",
+                  FNCALL_OPTION_NONE, FNCALL_CATEGORY_DATA, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, DEFAULT_ARGC),
     FnCallTypeNew("sublist", CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING_LIST, SUBLIST_ARGS, &FnCallSublist, "Returns arg3 element from either the head or the tail (according to arg2) of list or array or data container arg1.",
                   FNCALL_OPTION_COLLECTING, FNCALL_CATEGORY_DATA, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, DEFAULT_ARGC),
     FnCallTypeNew("sysctlvalue", CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, SYSCTLVALUE_ARGS, &FnCallSysctlValue, "Returns a value for sysctl key arg1 pair",
@@ -12103,6 +12279,9 @@ const FnCallType CF_FNCALL_TYPES[] =
                   FNCALL_OPTION_VARARG, FNCALL_CATEGORY_FILES, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, ARGC(2, 3)),
     FnCallTypeNew("isreadable", CF_DATA_TYPE_CONTEXT, ISREADABLE_ARGS, &FnCallIsReadable, "Check if file is readable. Timeout immediately or after optional timeout interval",
                   FNCALL_OPTION_VARARG, FNCALL_CATEGORY_FILES, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, ARGC(1, 2)),
+    FnCallTypeNew("file_older_than", CF_DATA_TYPE_CONTEXT, FILE_OLDER_THAN_ARGS, &FnCallFileOlderThan, "Check if file is older than a time offset or date.",
+                  FNCALL_OPTION_VARARG, FNCALL_CATEGORY_FILES, SYNTAX_STATUS_NORMAL, ARGC(2, 3)),
+
 
     // Datatype functions
     FnCallTypeNew("type", CF_DATA_TYPE_STRING, DATATYPE_ARGS, &FnCallDatatype, "Get type description as string",
diff --git a/libpromises/pipes.h b/libpromises/pipes.h
index 5961ed0140..f5756e45b6 100644
--- a/libpromises/pipes.h
+++ b/libpromises/pipes.h
@@ -53,6 +53,8 @@ FILE *cf_popensetuid(const char *command, const Seq *arglist, const char *type,
 FILE *cf_popen_sh(const char *command, const char *type);
 FILE *cf_popen_sh_select(const char *command, const char *type, OutputSelect output_select);
 FILE *cf_popen_shsetuid(const char *command, const char *type, uid_t uid, gid_t gid, char *chdirv, char *chrootv, int background);
+FILE *cf_popen_exact_args_select(const char **argv, const char *type, OutputSelect output_select);
+FILE *cf_popen_exact_args(const char **argv, const char *type, bool capture_stderr);
 int cf_pclose(FILE *pp);
 void cf_pclose_nowait(FILE *pp);
 bool PipeToPid(pid_t *pid, FILE *pp);
diff --git a/libpromises/pipes_unix.c b/libpromises/pipes_unix.c
index a9aece3778..1e9a1b7ba7 100644
--- a/libpromises/pipes_unix.c
+++ b/libpromises/pipes_unix.c
@@ -371,18 +371,16 @@ IOData cf_popen_full_duplex(const char *command, bool capture_stderr, bool requi
     }
 }
 
-FILE *cf_popen_select(const char *command, const char *type, OutputSelect output_select)
+// do not use with user input
+FILE *cf_popen_exact_args_select(const char **argv, const char *type, OutputSelect output_select)
 {
     int pd[2];
     pid_t pid;
     FILE *pp = NULL;
 
-    char **argv = ArgSplitCommand(command, NULL);
-
     pid = CreatePipeAndFork(type, pd);
     if (pid == (pid_t) -1)
     {
-        ArgFree(argv);
         return NULL;
     }
 
@@ -427,7 +425,6 @@ FILE *cf_popen_select(const char *command, const char *type, OutputSelect output
             if ((pp = fdopen(pd[0], type)) == NULL)
             {
                 cf_pwait(pid);
-                ArgFree(argv);
                 return NULL;
             }
             break;
@@ -439,13 +436,11 @@ FILE *cf_popen_select(const char *command, const char *type, OutputSelect output
             if ((pp = fdopen(pd[1], type)) == NULL)
             {
                 cf_pwait(pid);
-                ArgFree(argv);
                 return NULL;
             }
         }
 
         ChildrenFDSet(fileno(pp), pid);
-        ArgFree(argv);
         return pp;
     }
 
@@ -453,6 +448,24 @@ FILE *cf_popen_select(const char *command, const char *type, OutputSelect output
     return NULL;
 }
 
+// do not use with user input
+FILE *cf_popen_exact_args(const char **argv, const char *type, bool capture_stderr)
+{
+    return cf_popen_exact_args_select(
+        argv,
+        type,
+        capture_stderr ? OUTPUT_SELECT_BOTH : OUTPUT_SELECT_STDOUT);
+}
+
+FILE *cf_popen_select(const char *command, const char *type, OutputSelect output_select)
+{
+    char **argv = ArgSplitCommand(command, NULL);
+    FILE *ret = cf_popen_exact_args_select(argv, type, output_select);
+    ArgFree(argv);
+
+    return ret;
+}
+
 FILE *cf_popen(const char *command, const char *type, bool capture_stderr)
 {
     return cf_popen_select(
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/01_vars/02_functions/file_older_than.cf b/tests/acceptance/01_vars/02_functions/file_older_than.cf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4f0a24041a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/01_vars/02_functions/file_older_than.cf
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+#######################################################
+#
+# Test file_older_than function
+#
+#######################################################
+body common control
+{
+  inputs => { "../../default.sub.cf" };
+  bundlesequence => { default("$(this.promise_filename)") };
+  version => "1.0";
+}
+
+#######################################################
+bundle agent init
+{
+  files:
+    "$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt"
+      create => "true",
+      content => "Hello world!";
+}
+
+#######################################################
+bundle agent test
+{
+  classes:
+    "long_time_past"
+      expression => file_older_than(
+        "$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt", "100 years ago"
+      ),
+      if => fileexists("$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt");
+
+    "long_time_future"
+      expression => not(
+        file_older_than("$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt", "100 years")
+      ),
+      if => fileexists("$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt");
+
+    "newer_than_a_week"
+      expression => file_older_than(
+        "$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt", "-1 week", "modif"
+      ),
+      if => fileexists("$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt");
+
+    "ok"
+      expression => and(
+        "long_time_past", "long_time_future", "newer_than_a_week"
+      ),
+      if => fileexists("$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt"),
+      scope => "namespace";
+}
+
+#######################################################
+bundle agent check
+{
+  files:
+    "$(G.testdir)/somefile.txt" delete => tidy;
+
+  reports:
+    ok::
+      "$(this.promise_filename) Pass";
+
+    !ok::
+      "$(this.promise_filename) FAIL";
+}
diff --git a/tests/acceptance/01_vars/02_functions/strtotime.cf b/tests/acceptance/01_vars/02_functions/strtotime.cf
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1b6d5eb98a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/acceptance/01_vars/02_functions/strtotime.cf
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+#######################################################
+#
+# Test strtotime function
+#
+#######################################################
+body common control
+{
+  inputs => { "../../default.sub.cf" };
+  bundlesequence => { default("$(this.promise_filename)") };
+  version => "1.0";
+}
+
+#######################################################
+bundle agent test
+{
+  vars:
+    "some_date" int => strtotime("2009-09-21T00:00:00Z");
+    "epoch" int => int(1253491200);
+
+  classes:
+    "ok" expression => strcmp("$(epoch)", "$(some_date)");
+
+  reports:
+    ok::
+      "$(this.promise_filename) Pass";
+
+    !ok::
+      "$(this.promise_filename) FAIL";
+}