diff --git a/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.pl b/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.pl
index 31f3281cefe..84c8d6e4703 100644
--- a/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.pl
+++ b/nixos/lib/test-driver/test-driver.pl
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ sub createMachine {
     my ($args) = @_;
     my $vm = Machine->new({%{$args}, log => $log, redirectSerial => ($ENV{USE_SERIAL} // "0") ne "1"});
     $vms{$vm->name} = $vm;
+    $vm->execute("date -s @" . time);
     return $vm;
 }