diff --git a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/ResourceUtils.java b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/ResourceUtils.java
index 0c3646783..5cc4579dc 100644
--- a/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/ResourceUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/org/apache/tools/ant/util/ResourceUtils.java
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ import org.apache.tools.ant.types.TimeComparison;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.ResourceFactory;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.ResourceCollection;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.FilterSetCollection;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.FileProvider;
+import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.FileResource;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.Union;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.Restrict;
 import org.apache.tools.ant.types.resources.Resources;
@@ -475,6 +477,21 @@ public class ResourceUtils {
         return text ? textCompare(r1, r2) : binaryCompare(r1, r2);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Convenience method to turn any fileProvider into a basic FileResource with the
+     * file's immediate parent as the basedir, for tasks that need one.
+     * @param fileProvider input
+     * @return fileProvider if it is a FileResource instance, or a new FileResource with fileProvider's file.
+     */
+    public static FileResource asFileResource(FileProvider fileProvider) {
+        if (fileProvider instanceof FileResource || fileProvider == null) {
+            return (FileResource) fileProvider;
+        }
+        FileResource result = new FileResource(fileProvider.getFile());
+        result.setProject(Project.getProject(fileProvider));
+        return result;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Binary compares the contents of two Resources.
      * <p>