diff --git a/tools/idf_tools.py b/tools/idf_tools.py
index 9ce3f9f64b..1670ade1b0 100755
--- a/tools/idf_tools.py
+++ b/tools/idf_tools.py
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@
 import argparse
 import contextlib
 import copy
+import datetime
 import errno
 import functools
 import hashlib
@@ -1517,6 +1518,16 @@ def get_constraints(idf_version):  # type: (str) -> str
 
     mkdir_p(os.path.dirname(temp_path))
 
+    try:
+        age = datetime.date.today() - datetime.date.fromtimestamp(os.path.getmtime(constraint_path))
+        if age < datetime.timedelta(days=1):
+            info(f'Skipping the download of {constraint_path} because it was downloaded recently. If you believe '
+                 f'that this is causing you trouble then remove it manually and re-run your install script.')
+            return constraint_path
+    except OSError:
+        # doesn't exist or inaccessible
+        pass
+
     for _ in range(DOWNLOAD_RETRY_COUNT):
         download(constraint_url, temp_path)
         if not os.path.isfile(temp_path):