diff --git a/collects/compiler/cm.ss b/collects/compiler/cm.ss
index f5c8321ec4..aecd9aa8ea 100644
--- a/collects/compiler/cm.ss
+++ b/collects/compiler/cm.ss
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
          manager-compile-notify-handler
          manager-skip-file-handler
          file-date-in-collection
+         file-date-in-paths
          (rename-out [trace manager-trace-handler]))
 
 (define manager-compile-notify-handler (make-parameter void))
@@ -22,12 +23,15 @@
 (define manager-skip-file-handler (make-parameter (λ (x) #f)))
 
 (define (file-date-in-collection p)
+  (file-date-in-paths p (current-library-collection-paths)))
+
+(define (file-date-in-paths p paths)
   (let ([p-eles (explode-path (simplify-path p))])
-    (let c-loop ([collects-paths (current-library-collection-paths)])
+    (let c-loop ([paths paths])
       (cond
-        [(null? collects-paths) #f]
+        [(null? paths) #f]
         [else
-         (let i-loop ([collects-eles (explode-path (car collects-paths))]
+         (let i-loop ([collects-eles (explode-path (car paths))]
                       [p-eles p-eles])
            (cond
              [(null? collects-eles)
@@ -60,13 +64,13 @@
                      (file-or-directory-modify-seconds p)])))]
              [(null? p-eles) 
               ;; this case shouldn't happen... I think.
-              (c-loop (cdr collects-paths))]
+              (c-loop (cdr paths))]
              [else
               (cond
                 [(equal? (car p-eles) (car collects-eles))
                  (i-loop (cdr collects-eles) (cdr p-eles))]
                 [else 
-                 (c-loop (cdr collects-paths))])]))]))))
+                 (c-loop (cdr paths))])]))]))))
 
 (define (trace-printf fmt . args)
   (let ([t (trace)])
diff --git a/collects/drscheme/private/module-language.ss b/collects/drscheme/private/module-language.ss
index e550325243..90f11ea4d3 100644
--- a/collects/drscheme/private/module-language.ss
+++ b/collects/drscheme/private/module-language.ss
@@ -5,15 +5,16 @@
          scheme/class
          scheme/list
          scheme/path
+         scheme/contract
          mred
          compiler/embed
          compiler/cm
          launcher
          framework
          string-constants
+         planet/config
          "drsig.ss"
-         "rep.ss"
-         scheme/contract)
+         "rep.ss")
 
 (define op (current-output-port))
 (define (oprintf . args) (apply fprintf op args))
@@ -184,7 +185,10 @@
                          (use-compiled-file-paths)))]))
              
              (current-load/use-compiled (make-compilation-manager-load/use-compiled-handler))
-             (manager-skip-file-handler file-date-in-collection)))))
+             (manager-skip-file-handler
+              (λ (p) (file-date-in-paths 
+                      p
+                      (cons (CACHE-DIR) (current-library-collection-paths)))))))))
       
       (define/override (get-one-line-summary)
         (string-constant module-language-one-line-summary))
diff --git a/collects/scribblings/drscheme/languages.scrbl b/collects/scribblings/drscheme/languages.scrbl
index e24d737865..63f10a1808 100644
--- a/collects/scribblings/drscheme/languages.scrbl
+++ b/collects/scribblings/drscheme/languages.scrbl
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 #lang scribble/doc
 @(require "common.ss"
           (for-label errortrace/errortrace-lib
-                     compiler/cm))
+                     compiler/cm
+                     planet/config))
 
 @title[#:tag "languages" #:style 'toc]{Languages}
 
@@ -52,7 +53,11 @@ of various libraries).
         The @italic{populate compiled/ directories} option corresponds to 
         @schemeblock[(current-load/use-compiled 
                       (make-compilation-manager-load/use-compiled-handler))
-                     (manager-skip-file-handler file-date-in-collection)]
+                     (manager-skip-file-handler
+                      (λ (p) 
+                        (file-date-in-paths 
+                         p
+                         (cons (CACHE-DIR) (current-library-collection-paths)))))]
         plus adding either @scheme[(build-path "compiled" "drscheme")] or 
         @scheme[(build-path "compiled" "drscheme" "errortrace")]
         to the front of @scheme[use-compiled-file-paths], depending if the
diff --git a/collects/scribblings/mzc/make.scrbl b/collects/scribblings/mzc/make.scrbl
index 4c46baa81c..6b1927c5cf 100644
--- a/collects/scribblings/mzc/make.scrbl
+++ b/collects/scribblings/mzc/make.scrbl
@@ -251,9 +251,14 @@ A parameter whose value is called for each file that is loaded and
  @scheme[(lambda (x) #f)].}
 
 @defproc[(file-date-in-collection [p path?]) (or/c number? #f)]{
+  Calls @scheme[file-date-in-paths] with @scheme[p] and
+  @scheme[(current-library-collection-paths)].
+}
+
+@defproc[(file-date-in-paths [p path?] [paths (listof path?)]) (or/c number? #f)]{
  This is a function intended to be used with @scheme[manager-skip-file-handler].
  It returns the date of the @tt{.ss} or @tt{.zo} file (whichever is newer)
- for any path that is inside the collection hierarchy and returns
+ for any path that is inside the @scheme[paths] argument, and
  @scheme[#f] for any other path.
 }