diff --git a/src/timespec_utils.hpp b/src/timespec_utils.hpp
index 8a8f721a..96673afc 100644
--- a/src/timespec_utils.hpp
+++ b/src/timespec_utils.hpp
@@ -2,6 +2,23 @@
 
 namespace TimeSpec
 {
+  static
+  inline
+  timespec
+  is_newer(const timespec &t0_,
+           const timespec &t1_)
+  {
+    if(t0_.tv_sec > t1_.tv_sec)
+      return t0_;
+    if(t0_.tv_sec == t1_.tv_sec)
+      {
+        if(t0_.tv_nsec > t1_.tv_nsec)
+          return t0_;
+      }
+
+    return t1_;
+  }
+  
   static
   inline
   timespec