diff --git a/system/etc.nix b/system/etc.nix
index d29c869ba97..da04d8d961e 100644
--- a/system/etc.nix
+++ b/system/etc.nix
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ import ../helpers/make-etc.nix {
         src = ./etc/profile.sh;
         inherit systemPath wrapperDir;
         inherit (pkgs) kernel;
+        timeZone = config.get ["time" "timeZone"];
       };
       target = "profile";
     }
diff --git a/system/etc/profile.sh b/system/etc/profile.sh
index 18f81f58c78..f2b8d3c8dcf 100644
--- a/system/etc/profile.sh
+++ b/system/etc/profile.sh
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ export PATH=@wrapperDir@:@systemPath@/bin:@systemPath@/sbin
 export MODULE_DIR=@kernel@/lib/modules
 export NIX_CONF_DIR=/nix/etc/nix
 export PAGER=less
+export TZ=@timeZone@
 
 PROMPT_COLOR="1;31m"
 PS1="\n\[\033[$PROMPT_COLOR\][\u@\h:\w]$\[\033[0m\] "
diff --git a/system/options.nix b/system/options.nix
index 0debe2f83de..311c9a7995b 100644
--- a/system/options.nix
+++ b/system/options.nix
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@
     description = "The name of the machine.";
   }
 
+
+  {
+    name = ["time" "timeZone"];
+    default = "CET";
+    example = "America/New_York";
+    description = "The time zone used when displaying times and dates.";
+  }
+
   
   {
     name = ["boot" "autoDetectRootDevice"];