diff --git a/packages/sysutils/timezone-data/scripts/tzdata-setup b/packages/sysutils/timezone-data/scripts/tzdata-setup
index b5436e47a4..67484dad57 100755
--- a/packages/sysutils/timezone-data/scripts/tzdata-setup
+++ b/packages/sysutils/timezone-data/scripts/tzdata-setup
@@ -27,4 +27,6 @@ fi
 
 if [ ! "$TIMEZONE" == "" -a -f "/usr/share/zoneinfo/$TIMEZONE" ] ; then
   ln -sf "/usr/share/zoneinfo/$TIMEZONE" /var/run/localtime
+else
+  ln -sf "/usr/share/zoneinfo/UTC" /var/run/localtime
 fi