diff --git a/scripts/dev/makedist b/scripts/dev/makedist
index 515e4ba7228..1326929a3aa 100755
--- a/scripts/dev/makedist
+++ b/scripts/dev/makedist
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ fi
 
 # Reset the modification and access times of all files to be packaged.
 echo "makedist: Resetting the modification and access times of package files."
-find . -exec touch -c {} \;
+touch -c NEWS
+find . -exec touch -r NEWS -c {} \;
 
 cd ..