diff --git a/make/dev-utils.mk b/make/dev-utils.mk
index fb43633c..51ab38b3 100644
--- a/make/dev-utils.mk
+++ b/make/dev-utils.mk
@@ -35,12 +35,6 @@ install-to-system:
 		sudo systemctl restart $$s ;\
 	done
 
-list-files echo-files:
-	@$(LIST_VCS_FILES) -f
-
-list-text-files echo-text-files:
-	@$(LIST_VCS_FILES) -ft
-
 indent-makefiles:
 	$(PROCESS_TEXT_FILES_PY) mk-indent \
 		--equal-pos $(MAKEFILE_INDENT_EQUAL_POS) \
@@ -54,4 +48,6 @@ cleanup-spaces:
 		--name-regex="$(CLEANUP_SPACES_NAME_REGEX)" \
 		--root=$(MAKEFILE_INDENT_ROOT)
 
+include $(MODDIR)/make/list-files.mk
+
 endif # ifndef DEV_UTILS_MK_INCLUDED
diff --git a/make/list-files.mk b/make/list-files.mk
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8a3d7c26
--- /dev/null
+++ b/make/list-files.mk
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+LIST_VCS_FILES              := /bin/bash $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/scm.sh ls-files
+
+ifndef LIST_FILES_MK_INCLUDED
+LIST_FILES_MK_INCLUDED := true
+
+list-files echo-files:
+	@$(LIST_VCS_FILES) -f
+
+list-text-files echo-text-files:
+	@$(LIST_VCS_FILES) -ft
+
+tar-files:
+	@$(LIST_VCS_FILES) $(TOPDIR) -f | xargs tar -C $(TOPDIR) -cf -
+
+cpio-files:
+	@$(LIST_VCS_FILES) $(TOPDIR) -f | cpio -D $(TOPDIR) -o -H newc
+
+endif # ifndef LIST_FILES_MK_INCLUDED
+
diff --git a/make/topdir.mk b/make/topdir.mk
index 39577ce4..efeca9db 100644
--- a/make/topdir.mk
+++ b/make/topdir.mk
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ endif
 
 PROJECT_DESCR                = $(TOPDIR)/make/project.conf
 GIT_DESCR                    = $(TOPDIR)/.git/description
-LIST_VCS_FILES               = /bin/bash $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/scm.sh ls-files
 
 OPT_JANWARE_PROJECT         ?= -j
 
@@ -62,6 +61,7 @@ endif
 include $(MODDIR)/make/rpmdist.mk
 include $(MODDIR)/make/rules.mk
 include $(MODDIR)/make/doc-rules.mk
+include $(MODDIR)/make/list-files.mk
 
 STREAMLINE_PROJECT          ?= bash $(MOD_SCRIPT_DIR)/streamline-project.sh