diff --git a/collects/compiler/cm.rkt b/collects/compiler/cm.rkt
index b573bcb..2b8394f 100644
--- a/collects/compiler/cm.rkt
+++ b/collects/compiler/cm.rkt
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@
                  (define d (collects-relative*->path (if ext? (cdr p) p)))
                  (define t
                    (if ext?
-                       (cons (try-file-time d) #f)
+                       (cons (or (try-file-time d) +inf.0) #f)
                        (compile-root mode roots d up-to-date read-src-syntax #f new-seen)))
                  (and t
                       (car t)