diff --git a/init/Kconfig b/init/Kconfig
index 5cddb9ba0eef..90cb1ac936db 100644
--- a/init/Kconfig
+++ b/init/Kconfig
@@ -1361,6 +1361,16 @@ config BOOT_CONFIG
 
 	  If unsure, say Y.
 
+config INITRAMFS_PRESERVE_MTIME
+	bool "Preserve cpio archive mtimes in initramfs"
+	default y
+	help
+	  Each entry in an initramfs cpio archive carries an mtime value. When
+	  enabled, extracted cpio items take this mtime, with directory mtime
+	  setting deferred until after creation of any child entries.
+
+	  If unsure, say Y.
+
 choice
 	prompt "Compiler optimization level"
 	default CC_OPTIMIZE_FOR_PERFORMANCE
diff --git a/init/initramfs.c b/init/initramfs.c
index 656d2d71349f..b5bfed859fa9 100644
--- a/init/initramfs.c
+++ b/init/initramfs.c
@@ -116,15 +116,17 @@ static void __init free_hash(void)
 	}
 }
 
-static long __init do_utime(char *filename, time64_t mtime)
+#ifdef CONFIG_INITRAMFS_PRESERVE_MTIME
+static void __init do_utime(char *filename, time64_t mtime)
 {
-	struct timespec64 t[2];
+	struct timespec64 t[2] = { { .tv_sec = mtime }, { .tv_sec = mtime } };
+	init_utimes(filename, t);
+}
 
-	t[0].tv_sec = mtime;
-	t[0].tv_nsec = 0;
-	t[1].tv_sec = mtime;
-	t[1].tv_nsec = 0;
-	return init_utimes(filename, t);
+static void __init do_utime_path(const struct path *path, time64_t mtime)
+{
+	struct timespec64 t[2] = { { .tv_sec = mtime }, { .tv_sec = mtime } };
+	vfs_utimes(path, t);
 }
 
 static __initdata LIST_HEAD(dir_list);
@@ -157,6 +159,12 @@ static void __init dir_utime(void)
 		kfree(de);
 	}
 }
+#else
+static void __init do_utime(char *filename, time64_t mtime) {}
+static void __init do_utime_path(const struct path *path, time64_t mtime) {}
+static void __init dir_add(const char *name, time64_t mtime) {}
+static void __init dir_utime(void) {}
+#endif
 
 static __initdata time64_t mtime;
 
@@ -381,14 +389,10 @@ static int __init do_name(void)
 static int __init do_copy(void)
 {
 	if (byte_count >= body_len) {
-		struct timespec64 t[2] = { };
 		if (xwrite(wfile, victim, body_len, &wfile_pos) != body_len)
 			error("write error");
 
-		t[0].tv_sec = mtime;
-		t[1].tv_sec = mtime;
-		vfs_utimes(&wfile->f_path, t);
-
+		do_utime_path(&wfile->f_path, mtime);
 		fput(wfile);
 		eat(body_len);
 		state = SkipIt;