diff --git a/compose/utils.py b/compose/utils.py
index 8f0b3e549..b9b6ab9bd 100644
--- a/compose/utils.py
+++ b/compose/utils.py
@@ -170,3 +170,12 @@ def truncate_id(value):
     if len(value) > 12:
         return value[:12]
     return value
+
+
+def unique_everseen(iterable, key=lambda x: x):
+    "List unique elements, preserving order. Remember all elements ever seen."
+    seen = set()
+    for element in iterable:
+        if key(element) not in seen:
+            seen.add(element)
+            yield element
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils_test.py b/tests/unit/utils_test.py
index 84becb975..186b6b14e 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils_test.py
@@ -68,3 +68,9 @@ class TestParseBytes(object):
         assert utils.parse_bytes(123) == 123
         assert utils.parse_bytes('foobar') is None
         assert utils.parse_bytes('123') == 123
+
+
+class TestMoreItertools(object):
+    def test_unique_everseen(self):
+        assert list(utils.unique_everseen([2, 1, 2, 1])) == [2, 1]
+        assert list(utils.unique_everseen([2, 1, 2, 1], hash)) == [2, 1]