diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2fb525528a3e..bcf69d624cbf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -73,6 +73,7 @@ SYNOPSIS
                 [(-o <output directory> | --output <output directory>)]
                 [(-t <template directory> | --template-dir <template directory>)]
                 [(-v | --verbose)]
+                [(-s | --skip-overwrite)]
 
 OPTIONS
         -a <authorization>, --auth <authorization>
@@ -105,6 +106,10 @@ OPTIONS
 
         -v, --verbose
             verbose mode
+            
+        -s , --skip-overwrite
+            specifies if the existing files should be overwritten during 
+            the generation 
  ```
 
 You can then compile and run the client, as well as unit tests against it:
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/pom.xml b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/pom.xml
index 29daf274138e..4c29a0f1ddea 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/pom.xml
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/pom.xml
@@ -99,6 +99,13 @@
             <version>${slf4j-version}</version>
         </dependency>
 
+        <dependency>
+            <groupId>junit</groupId>
+            <artifactId>junit</artifactId>
+            <version>${junit-version}</version>
+            <scope>test</scope>
+        </dependency>
+
     </dependencies>
 
 </project>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/cmd/Generate.java b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/cmd/Generate.java
index 0d7e94e8f281..035fa1a21d35 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/cmd/Generate.java
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/cmd/Generate.java
@@ -66,6 +66,10 @@ public class Generate implements Runnable {
             "Supported options can be different for each language. Run config-help -l {lang} command for language specific config options.")
     private String configFile;
 
+    @Option(name = {"-s", "--skip-overwrite"}, title = "skip overwrite", description = "specifies if the existing files should be " +
+            "overwritten during the generation.")
+    private boolean skipOverwrite;
+
     /**
      * Tries to load config class with SPI first, then with class name directly from classpath
      *
@@ -118,6 +122,7 @@ public class Generate implements Runnable {
             }
         }
 
+        config.setSkipOverwrite(skipOverwrite);
         input.setConfig(config);
 
         Swagger swagger = new SwaggerParser().read(spec, input.getAuthorizationValues(), true);
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/test/java/io.swagger.codegen/GenerateTest.java b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/test/java/io.swagger.codegen/GenerateTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..bd2a342e3e20
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/test/java/io.swagger.codegen/GenerateTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+package io.swagger.codegen;
+
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertEquals;
+import static org.junit.Assert.assertTrue;
+
+import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;
+import org.junit.Rule;
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.rules.TemporaryFolder;
+
+import static java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets.UTF_8;
+import static org.junit.Assert.fail;
+
+import java.io.BufferedWriter;
+import java.io.File;
+import java.io.FileOutputStream;
+import java.io.IOException;
+import java.io.OutputStreamWriter;
+import java.io.Writer;
+import java.nio.charset.StandardCharsets;
+import java.util.Arrays;
+
+public class GenerateTest {
+
+    private static final String TEST_SKIP_OVERWRITE = "testSkipOverwrite";
+    private static final String POM_FILE = "pom.xml";
+    private static final String MODEL_ORDER_FILE = "/src/main/java/io/swagger/client/model/Order.java";
+
+    @Rule
+    public TemporaryFolder folder = new TemporaryFolder();
+
+    @Test
+    public void testSkipOverwrite() throws IOException {
+        final File output = folder.getRoot();
+
+        String[] args = {"generate", "-i", "src/test/resources/petstore.json", "-l", "java", "-o", output.getAbsolutePath()};
+        String[] argsWithSparam = Arrays.copyOf(args, args.length + 1);
+        argsWithSparam[args.length] = "-s";
+
+        //generate content first time without -s flag, so all generated files should be recorded
+        SwaggerCodegen.main(args);
+        final File order = new File(output, MODEL_ORDER_FILE);
+        assertTrue(order.exists());
+
+        //change content of one file
+        changeContent(order);
+
+        //generate content second time without -s flag, so changed file should be rewritten
+        SwaggerCodegen.main(args);
+        //order = new File(output, MODEL_ORDER_FILE);
+        assertTrue(!TEST_SKIP_OVERWRITE.equals(FileUtils.readFileToString(order, StandardCharsets.UTF_8)));
+
+        //change content again
+        changeContent(order);
+        //delete file
+        final File pom = new File(output, POM_FILE);
+        if (!pom.delete()) {
+            fail();
+        }
+
+        //generate content third time with -s flag, so changed file should not be rewritten
+        //and deleted file should be recorded
+        SwaggerCodegen.main(argsWithSparam);
+        assertEquals(FileUtils.readFileToString(order, StandardCharsets.UTF_8), TEST_SKIP_OVERWRITE);
+        assertTrue(pom.exists());
+    }
+
+    private void changeContent(File file) throws IOException {
+        Writer out = new BufferedWriter(new OutputStreamWriter(new FileOutputStream(file), UTF_8));
+        out.write(TEST_SKIP_OVERWRITE);
+        out.close();
+    }
+}
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/test/resources/petstore.json b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/test/resources/petstore.json
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..66762d74b2bc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen-cli/src/test/resources/petstore.json
@@ -0,0 +1,977 @@
+{
+  "swagger": "2.0",
+  "info": {
+    "description": "This is a sample server Petstore server.  You can find out more about Swagger at <a href=\"http://swagger.io\">http://swagger.io</a> or on irc.freenode.net, #swagger.  For this sample, you can use the api key \"special-key\" to test the authorization filters",
+    "version": "1.0.0",
+    "title": "Swagger Petstore",
+    "termsOfService": "http://swagger.io/terms/",
+    "contact": {
+      "email": "apiteam@swagger.io"
+    },
+    "license": {
+      "name": "Apache 2.0",
+      "url": "http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0.html"
+    }
+  },
+  "host": "petstore.swagger.io",
+  "basePath": "/v2",
+  "schemes": [
+    "http"
+  ],
+  "paths": {
+    "/pet": {
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Add a new pet to the store",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "addPet",
+        "consumes": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "Pet object that needs to be added to the store",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/Pet"
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "405": {
+            "description": "Invalid input"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "put": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Update an existing pet",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "updatePet",
+        "consumes": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "Pet object that needs to be added to the store",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/Pet"
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "405": {
+            "description": "Validation exception"
+          },
+          "404": {
+            "description": "Pet not found"
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid ID supplied"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "/pet/findByStatus": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Finds Pets by status",
+        "description": "Multiple status values can be provided with comma seperated strings",
+        "operationId": "findPetsByStatus",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "status",
+            "in": "query",
+            "description": "Status values that need to be considered for filter",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "collectionFormat": "multi",
+            "default": "available"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "array",
+              "items": {
+                "$ref": "#/definitions/Pet"
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid status value"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "/pet/findByTags": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Finds Pets by tags",
+        "description": "Muliple tags can be provided with comma seperated strings. Use tag1, tag2, tag3 for testing.",
+        "operationId": "findPetsByTags",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "tags",
+            "in": "query",
+            "description": "Tags to filter by",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": {
+              "type": "string"
+            },
+            "collectionFormat": "multi"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "array",
+              "items": {
+                "$ref": "#/definitions/Pet"
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid tag value"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "/pet/{petId}": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Find pet by ID",
+        "description": "Returns a pet when ID < 10.  ID > 10 or nonintegers will simulate API error conditions",
+        "operationId": "getPetById",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "petId",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "ID of pet that needs to be fetched",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "integer",
+            "format": "int64"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "404": {
+            "description": "Pet not found"
+          },
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/Pet"
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid ID supplied"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "api_key": []
+          },
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Updates a pet in the store with form data",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "updatePetWithForm",
+        "consumes": [
+          "application/x-www-form-urlencoded"
+        ],
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "petId",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "ID of pet that needs to be updated",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "name",
+            "in": "formData",
+            "description": "Updated name of the pet",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "status",
+            "in": "formData",
+            "description": "Updated status of the pet",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "405": {
+            "description": "Invalid input"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      },
+      "delete": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Deletes a pet",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "deletePet",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "api_key",
+            "in": "header",
+            "description": "",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "petId",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "Pet id to delete",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "integer",
+            "format": "int64"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid pet value"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "/pet/{petId}/uploadImage": {
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "pet"
+        ],
+        "summary": "uploads an image",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "uploadFile",
+        "consumes": [
+          "multipart/form-data"
+        ],
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "petId",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "ID of pet to update",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "integer",
+            "format": "int64"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "additionalMetadata",
+            "in": "formData",
+            "description": "Additional data to pass to server",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "file",
+            "in": "formData",
+            "description": "file to upload",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "file"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "default": {
+            "description": "successful operation"
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "petstore_auth": [
+              "write:pets",
+              "read:pets"
+            ]
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "/store/inventory": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "store"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Returns pet inventories by status",
+        "description": "Returns a map of status codes to quantities",
+        "operationId": "getInventory",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "object",
+              "additionalProperties": {
+                "type": "integer",
+                "format": "int32"
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        "security": [
+          {
+            "api_key": []
+          }
+        ]
+      }
+    },
+    "/store/order": {
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "store"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Place an order for a pet",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "placeOrder",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "order placed for purchasing the pet",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/Order"
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/Order"
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid Order"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/store/order/{orderId}": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "store"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Find purchase order by ID",
+        "description": "For valid response try integer IDs with value <= 5 or > 10. Other values will generated exceptions",
+        "operationId": "getOrderById",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "orderId",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "ID of pet that needs to be fetched",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "404": {
+            "description": "Order not found"
+          },
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/Order"
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid ID supplied"
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      "delete": {
+        "tags": [
+          "store"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Delete purchase order by ID",
+        "description": "For valid response try integer IDs with value < 1000. Anything above 1000 or nonintegers will generate API errors",
+        "operationId": "deleteOrder",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "orderId",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "ID of the order that needs to be deleted",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "404": {
+            "description": "Order not found"
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid ID supplied"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/user": {
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Create user",
+        "description": "This can only be done by the logged in user.",
+        "operationId": "createUser",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "Created user object",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/User"
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "default": {
+            "description": "successful operation"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/user/createWithArray": {
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Creates list of users with given input array",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "createUsersWithArrayInput",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "List of user object",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "array",
+              "items": {
+                "$ref": "#/definitions/User"
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "default": {
+            "description": "successful operation"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/user/createWithList": {
+      "post": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Creates list of users with given input array",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "createUsersWithListInput",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "List of user object",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "array",
+              "items": {
+                "$ref": "#/definitions/User"
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "default": {
+            "description": "successful operation"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/user/login": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Logs user into the system",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "loginUser",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "username",
+            "in": "query",
+            "description": "The user name for login",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "name": "password",
+            "in": "query",
+            "description": "The password for login in clear text",
+            "required": false,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "type": "string"
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid username/password supplied"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/user/logout": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Logs out current logged in user session",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "logoutUser",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "default": {
+            "description": "successful operation"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "/user/{username}": {
+      "get": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Get user by user name",
+        "description": "",
+        "operationId": "getUserByName",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "username",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "The name that needs to be fetched. Use user1 for testing. ",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "404": {
+            "description": "User not found"
+          },
+          "200": {
+            "description": "successful operation",
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/User"
+            },
+            "examples": {
+              "application/json": {
+                "id": 1,
+                "username": "johnp",
+                "firstName": "John",
+                "lastName": "Public",
+                "email": "johnp@swagger.io",
+                "password": "-secret-",
+                "phone": "0123456789",
+                "userStatus": 0
+              }
+            }
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid username supplied"
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      "put": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Updated user",
+        "description": "This can only be done by the logged in user.",
+        "operationId": "updateUser",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "username",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "name that need to be deleted",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "string"
+          },
+          {
+            "in": "body",
+            "name": "body",
+            "description": "Updated user object",
+            "required": false,
+            "schema": {
+              "$ref": "#/definitions/User"
+            }
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "404": {
+            "description": "User not found"
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid user supplied"
+          }
+        }
+      },
+      "delete": {
+        "tags": [
+          "user"
+        ],
+        "summary": "Delete user",
+        "description": "This can only be done by the logged in user.",
+        "operationId": "deleteUser",
+        "produces": [
+          "application/json",
+          "application/xml"
+        ],
+        "parameters": [
+          {
+            "name": "username",
+            "in": "path",
+            "description": "The name that needs to be deleted",
+            "required": true,
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        ],
+        "responses": {
+          "404": {
+            "description": "User not found"
+          },
+          "400": {
+            "description": "Invalid username supplied"
+          }
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "securityDefinitions": {
+    "api_key": {
+      "type": "apiKey",
+      "name": "api_key",
+      "in": "header"
+    },
+    "petstore_auth": {
+      "type": "oauth2",
+      "authorizationUrl": "http://petstore.swagger.io/api/oauth/dialog",
+      "flow": "implicit",
+      "scopes": {
+        "write:pets": "modify pets in your account",
+        "read:pets": "read your pets"
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "definitions": {
+    "User": {
+      "properties": {
+        "id": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int64"
+        },
+        "username": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "firstName": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "lastName": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "email": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "password": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "phone": {
+          "type": "string"
+        },
+        "userStatus": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int32",
+          "description": "User Status"
+        }
+      },
+      "xml": {
+        "name": "User"
+      }
+    },
+    "Category": {
+      "properties": {
+        "id": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int64"
+        },
+        "name": {
+          "type": "string"
+        }
+      },
+      "xml": {
+        "name": "Category"
+      }
+    },
+    "Pet": {
+      "required": [
+        "name",
+        "photoUrls"
+      ],
+      "properties": {
+        "id": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int64"
+        },
+        "category": {
+          "$ref": "#/definitions/Category"
+        },
+        "name": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "example": "doggie"
+        },
+        "photoUrls": {
+          "type": "array",
+          "xml": {
+            "name": "photoUrl",
+            "wrapped": true
+          },
+          "items": {
+            "type": "string"
+          }
+        },
+        "tags": {
+          "type": "array",
+          "xml": {
+            "name": "tag",
+            "wrapped": true
+          },
+          "items": {
+            "$ref": "#/definitions/Tag"
+          }
+        },
+        "status": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "pet status in the store",
+          "enum": [
+            "available",
+            "pending",
+            "sold"
+          ]
+        }
+      },
+      "xml": {
+        "name": "Pet"
+      }
+    },
+    "Tag": {
+      "properties": {
+        "id": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int64"
+        },
+        "name": {
+          "type": "string"
+        }
+      },
+      "xml": {
+        "name": "Tag"
+      }
+    },
+    "Order": {
+      "properties": {
+        "id": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int64"
+        },
+        "petId": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int64"
+        },
+        "quantity": {
+          "type": "integer",
+          "format": "int32"
+        },
+        "shipDate": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "format": "date-time"
+        },
+        "status": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "description": "Order Status",
+          "enum": [
+            "placed",
+            "approved",
+            "delivered"
+          ]
+        },
+        "complete": {
+          "type": "boolean"
+        }
+      },
+      "xml": {
+        "name": "Order"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/CodegenConfig.java b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/CodegenConfig.java
index 6f96bd82b5d9..c15590b11d29 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/CodegenConfig.java
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/CodegenConfig.java
@@ -102,4 +102,8 @@ public interface CodegenConfig {
     String apiFilename(String templateName, String tag);
 
     boolean shouldOverwrite(String filename);
+
+    boolean isSkipOverwrite();
+
+    void setSkipOverwrite(boolean skipOverwrite);
 }
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultCodegen.java b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultCodegen.java
index e812643c1626..db5d11f7002c 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultCodegen.java
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultCodegen.java
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ public class DefaultCodegen {
     protected Map<String, Object> additionalProperties = new HashMap<String, Object>();
     protected List<SupportingFile> supportingFiles = new ArrayList<SupportingFile>();
     protected List<CliOption> cliOptions = new ArrayList<CliOption>();
+    protected boolean skipOverwrite;
 
     public List<CliOption> cliOptions() {
         return cliOptions;
@@ -1320,6 +1321,14 @@ public class DefaultCodegen {
     }
 
     public boolean shouldOverwrite(String filename) {
-        return true;
+        return !(skipOverwrite && new File(filename).exists());
+    }
+
+    public boolean isSkipOverwrite() {
+        return skipOverwrite;
+    }
+
+    public void setSkipOverwrite(boolean skipOverwrite) {
+        this.skipOverwrite = skipOverwrite;
     }
 }
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultGenerator.java b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultGenerator.java
index b48c70070b9f..dd55c35bf9b1 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultGenerator.java
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/DefaultGenerator.java
@@ -131,6 +131,9 @@ public class DefaultGenerator extends AbstractGenerator implements Generator {
                     for (String templateName : config.modelTemplateFiles().keySet()) {
                         String suffix = config.modelTemplateFiles().get(templateName);
                         String filename = config.modelFileFolder() + File.separator + config.toModelFilename(name) + suffix;
+                        if (!config.shouldOverwrite(filename)) {
+                            continue;
+                        }
                         String template = readTemplate(config.templateDir() + File.separator + templateName);
                         Template tmpl = Mustache.compiler()
                                 .withLoader(new Mustache.TemplateLoader() {
@@ -179,7 +182,7 @@ public class DefaultGenerator extends AbstractGenerator implements Generator {
                 for (String templateName : config.apiTemplateFiles().keySet()) {
 
                     String filename = config.apiFilename(templateName, tag);
-                    if (new File(filename).exists() && !config.shouldOverwrite(filename)) {
+                    if (!config.shouldOverwrite(filename)) {
                         continue;
                     }
 
@@ -250,6 +253,9 @@ public class DefaultGenerator extends AbstractGenerator implements Generator {
                     of.mkdirs();
                 }
                 String outputFilename = outputFolder + File.separator + support.destinationFilename;
+                if (!config.shouldOverwrite(outputFilename)) {
+                    continue;
+                }
 
                 if (support.templateFile.endsWith("mustache")) {
                     String template = readTemplate(config.templateDir() + File.separator + support.templateFile);
diff --git a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/languages/JaxRSServerCodegen.java b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/languages/JaxRSServerCodegen.java
index 063b002596cf..99121f8d297a 100644
--- a/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/languages/JaxRSServerCodegen.java
+++ b/modules/swagger-codegen/src/main/java/io/swagger/codegen/languages/JaxRSServerCodegen.java
@@ -209,7 +209,6 @@ public class JaxRSServerCodegen extends JavaClientCodegen implements CodegenConf
     }
 
     public boolean shouldOverwrite(String filename) {
-
-        return !filename.endsWith("ServiceImpl.java") && !filename.endsWith("ServiceFactory.java");
+        return super.shouldOverwrite(filename) && !filename.endsWith("ServiceImpl.java") && !filename.endsWith("ServiceFactory.java");
     }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}