diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generic.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generic.nix
index af2ae3b54db..b42892f9f2d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generic.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/generic.nix
@@ -57,7 +57,10 @@ let
     autoModules = stdenv.platform.kernelAutoModules;
     arch = stdenv.platform.kernelArch;
 
-    KBUILD_BUILD_TIMESTAMP = 1; # (time_t)1
+    preConfigure = ''
+        buildFlagsArray+=("KBUILD_BUILD_TIMESTAMP=Thu Jan 1 00:00:01 UTC 1970")
+    '';
+
     crossAttrs = let
         cp = stdenv.cross.platform;
       in {
diff --git a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
index acc59303559..6d9baed7f2d 100644
--- a/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
+++ b/pkgs/os-specific/linux/kernel/manual-config.nix
@@ -105,7 +105,6 @@ let
       '';
 
       buildFlags = [
-        "KBUILD_BUILD_TIMESTAMP=1" # (time_t)1
         "KBUILD_BUILD_VERSION=1-NixOS"
         platform.kernelTarget
       ] ++ optional isModular "modules";