diff --git a/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/build_time.sh b/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/build_time.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..d44b9dbb155
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/build_time.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -e
+set -x
+
+function build_time() {
+  date > /etc/vagrant_box_build_time
+}
+
+return 2>/dev/null || build_time
diff --git a/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/definition.rb b/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/definition.rb
index 0a58746d247..b207b740b8e 100644
--- a/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/definition.rb
+++ b/tools/appliance/definitions/systemvmtemplate/definition.rb
@@ -57,6 +57,7 @@ config = {
     :sudo_cmd => "echo '%p'|sudo -S sh '%f'",
     :shutdown_cmd => 'halt -p',
     :postinstall_files => [
+        'build_time.sh',
         'apt_upgrade.sh',
         'configure_grub.sh',
         'postinstall.sh',