diff --git a/libisofs/ecma119.c b/libisofs/ecma119.c
index 0b6aa61..1d913ce 100644
--- a/libisofs/ecma119.c
+++ b/libisofs/ecma119.c
@@ -2418,7 +2418,7 @@ void ecma119_determine_now_time(Ecma119Image *target)
     uint8_t time_text[18];
     int i;
 
-    t0 = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&t0, 0);
     o = target->opts;
     if (o->vol_uuid[0]) {
         for(i = 0; i < 16; i++)
diff --git a/libisofs/eltorito.c b/libisofs/eltorito.c
index ba220b0..39a3137 100644
--- a/libisofs/eltorito.c
+++ b/libisofs/eltorito.c
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ int iso_tree_add_boot_node(IsoDir *parent, const char *name, IsoBoot **boot)
     node->node.hidden = parent->node.hidden;
 
     /* current time */
-    now = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&now, 0);
     node->node.atime = now;
     node->node.ctime = now;
     node->node.mtime = now;
diff --git a/libisofs/libisofs.h b/libisofs/libisofs.h
index 030e4c1..9dcb3d5 100644
--- a/libisofs/libisofs.h
+++ b/libisofs/libisofs.h
@@ -1251,6 +1251,27 @@ int iso_set_local_charset(char *name, int flag);
  */
 char *iso_get_local_charset(int flag);
 
+/**
+ * Inquire and maybe define the time which is considered to be "now" and
+ * used for timestamps of freshly created ISO nodes and as default of
+ * image timestamps.
+ * If ever, this should normally be enabled and defined before iso_image_new().
+ * If it is disabled, time(NULL) is considered to be "now".
+ *
+ * @param now
+ *      Returns the "now" value and maybe submits it as definition.
+ * @param flag
+ *      Bitfield for control purposes
+ *      bit0= *now contains the time to be set as nowtime override.
+              Enable the override if not bit1 is set, too.
+ *      bit1= Disable the nowtime override
+ * @return 1= *now is not overridden , 2= *now is overridden
+ *
+ * @since 1.5.2
+ */
+int iso_nowtime(time_t *now, int flag);
+
+
 /**
  * Create a new image, empty.
  *
diff --git a/libisofs/libisofs.ver b/libisofs/libisofs.ver
index 70cd2c2..72f9c6d 100644
--- a/libisofs/libisofs.ver
+++ b/libisofs/libisofs.ver
@@ -226,6 +226,7 @@ iso_node_unref;
 iso_node_xinfo_get_cloner;
 iso_node_xinfo_make_clonable;
 iso_node_zf_by_magic;
+iso_nowtime;
 iso_obtain_msgs;
 iso_read_image_features_destroy;
 iso_read_image_features_get_size;
diff --git a/libisofs/node.c b/libisofs/node.c
index 393ddc7..12ad939 100644
--- a/libisofs/node.c
+++ b/libisofs/node.c
@@ -1460,6 +1460,7 @@ void iso_notify_dir_iters(IsoNode *node, int flag)
 int iso_node_new_root(IsoDir **root)
 {
     IsoDir *dir;
+    time_t now;
 
     dir = calloc(1, sizeof(IsoDir));
     if (dir == NULL) {
@@ -1467,7 +1468,8 @@ int iso_node_new_root(IsoDir **root)
     }
     dir->node.refcount = 1;
     dir->node.type = LIBISO_DIR;
-    dir->node.atime = dir->node.ctime = dir->node.mtime = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&now, 0);
+    dir->node.atime = dir->node.ctime = dir->node.mtime = now;
     dir->node.mode = S_IFDIR | 0555;
 
     /* set parent to itself, to prevent root to be added to another dir */
diff --git a/libisofs/tree.c b/libisofs/tree.c
index c392679..12411da 100644
--- a/libisofs/tree.c
+++ b/libisofs/tree.c
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int iso_tree_add_new_dir(IsoDir *parent, const char *name, IsoDir **dir)
     iso_node_set_hidden((IsoNode*)node, parent->node.hidden);
 
     /* current time */
-    now = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&now, 0);
     iso_node_set_atime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_ctime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_mtime((IsoNode*)node, now);
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ int iso_tree_add_new_symlink(IsoDir *parent, const char *name,
     iso_node_set_hidden((IsoNode*)node, parent->node.hidden);
 
     /* current time */
-    now = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&now, 0);
     iso_node_set_atime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_ctime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_mtime((IsoNode*)node, now);
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ int iso_tree_add_new_special(IsoDir *parent, const char *name, mode_t mode,
     iso_node_set_hidden((IsoNode*)node, parent->node.hidden);
 
     /* current time */
-    now = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&now, 0);
     iso_node_set_atime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_ctime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_mtime((IsoNode*)node, now);
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ int iso_tree_add_new_file(IsoDir *parent, const char *name, IsoStream *stream,
     iso_node_set_hidden((IsoNode*)node, parent->node.hidden);
 
     /* current time */
-    now = time(NULL);
+    iso_nowtime(&now, 0);
     iso_node_set_atime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_ctime((IsoNode*)node, now);
     iso_node_set_mtime((IsoNode*)node, now);
diff --git a/libisofs/util.c b/libisofs/util.c
index ac6791f..7ab0d8b 100644
--- a/libisofs/util.c
+++ b/libisofs/util.c
@@ -2456,3 +2456,27 @@ int iso_truncate_leaf_name(int mode, int length, char *name, int flag)
     return ret;
 }
 
+/* API */
+/* @param flag bit0= *now contains the time to be set as nowtime override
+               bit1= disable the nowtime override
+   @return 1= *now is not overridden , 2= *now is overridden
+*/
+int iso_nowtime(time_t *now, int flag)
+{
+    static int now_time_overridden = 0;
+    static time_t now_time_override = 0;
+
+    if (flag & 1) {
+        now_time_overridden = 1;
+        now_time_override = *now;
+    }
+    if (flag & 2) {
+        now_time_overridden = 0;
+    }
+    *now = time(NULL);
+    if (!now_time_overridden)
+        return 1;
+    *now = now_time_override;
+    return 2;
+}
+