diff --git c/gr-utils/modtool/core/newmod.py w/gr-utils/modtool/core/newmod.py
index babebfcde..9a02f663e 100644
--- c/gr-utils/modtool/core/newmod.py
+++ w/gr-utils/modtool/core/newmod.py
@@ -62,7 +62,9 @@ class ModToolNewModule(ModTool):
         self._setup_scm(mode='new')
         logger.info(f"Creating out-of-tree module in {self.dir}...")
         try:
-            shutil.copytree(self.srcdir, self.dir)
+            # https://stackoverflow.com/a/17022146/4935114
+            shutil.copystat = lambda x, y: x
+            shutil.copytree(self.srcdir, self.dir, copy_function=shutil.copyfile)
             try:
               shutil.copyfile(os.path.join(gr.prefix(), 'share', 'gnuradio', 'clang-format.conf'),
                               os.path.join(self.dir, '.clang-format'))