diff --git a/Rakefile.cross b/Rakefile.cross
index 617d275..b499f90 100644
--- a/Rakefile.cross
+++ b/Rakefile.cross
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ require 'rake/clean'
 require 'rake/extensiontask'
 require 'rake/extensioncompiler'
 require 'ostruct'
+require_relative 'rakelib/task_extension'
 
 MISCDIR = BASEDIR + 'misc'
 
@@ -20,6 +21,7 @@ end
 
 class CrossLibrary < OpenStruct
 	include Rake::DSL
+	prepend TaskExtension
 
 	def initialize(for_platform, openssl_config, toolchain)
 		super()
diff --git a/rakelib/task_extension.rb b/rakelib/task_extension.rb
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..09534c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rakelib/task_extension.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,46 @@
+# This source code is borrowed from:
+# https://github.com/oneclick/rubyinstaller2/blob/b3dcbf69f131e44c78ea3a1c5e0041c223f266ce/lib/ruby_installer/build/utils.rb#L104-L144
+
+module TaskExtension
+  # Extend rake's file task to be defined only once and to check the expected file is indeed generated
+  #
+  # The same as #task, but for #file.
+  # In addition this file task raises an error, if the file that is expected to be generated is not present after the block was executed.
+  def file(name, *args, &block)
+    task_once(name, block) do
+      super(name, *args) do |ta|
+        block.call(ta).tap do
+          raise "file #{ta.name} is missing after task executed" unless File.exist?(ta.name)
+        end
+      end
+    end
+  end
+
+  # Extend rake's task definition to be defined only once, even if called several times
+  #
+  # This allows to define common tasks next to specific tasks.
+  # It is expected that any variation of the task's block is reflected in the task name or namespace.
+  # If the task name is identical, the task block is executed only once, even if the file task definition is executed twice.
+  def task(name, *args, &block)
+    task_once(name, block) do
+      super
+    end
+  end
+
+  private def task_once(name, block)
+    name = name.keys.first if name.is_a?(Hash)
+    if block &&
+        Rake::Task.task_defined?(name) &&
+        Rake::Task[name].instance_variable_get('@task_block_location') == block.source_location
+      # task is already defined for this target and the same block
+      # So skip double definition of the same action
+      Rake::Task[name]
+    elsif block
+      yield.tap do
+        Rake::Task[name].instance_variable_set('@task_block_location', block.source_location)
+      end
+    else
+      yield
+    end
+  end
+end