diff --git a/src/keri/app/signaling.py b/src/keri/app/signaling.py
index f32e9dbe..fa44c18f 100644
--- a/src/keri/app/signaling.py
+++ b/src/keri/app/signaling.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ def signal(attrs, topic, ckey=None, dt=None):
         Notice:  Notice instance
 
     """
-    dt = dt if dt is not None else datetime.datetime.now().isoformat()
+    dt = dt if dt is not None else helping.nowIso8601()
 
     if hasattr(dt, "isoformat"):
         dt = dt.isoformat()
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ def push(self, attrs, topic, ckey=None, dt=None):
         Returns:
 
         """
-        dt = dt if dt is not None else datetime.datetime.now()
+        dt = dt if dt is not None else helping.nowIso8601()
         sig = signal(attrs=attrs, topic=topic, ckey=ckey, dt=dt)
 
         if sig.ckey is not None:
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ def expireDo(self, tymth=None, tock=0.0):
         _ = (yield self.tock)
 
         while True:  # loop checking for expired messages
-            now = datetime.datetime.now()
+            now = helping.nowUTC()
             toRemove = []
             for sig in self.signals:
                 if now - helping.fromIso8601(sig.dt) > self.SignalTimeout:  # Expire messages that are too old
diff --git a/tests/app/test_notifying.py b/tests/app/test_notifying.py
index 2f3d294d..a62bb620 100644
--- a/tests/app/test_notifying.py
+++ b/tests/app/test_notifying.py
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ def test_notifier(mockHelpingNowUTC):
         assert notifier.rem(note.rid) is True
         assert notifier.getNotes() == []
 
-        dt = datetime.datetime.now()
+        dt = helping.nowIso8601()
         assert notifier.add(attrs=dict(a=1)) is True
         assert notifier.add(attrs=dict(a=2)) is True
         assert notifier.add(attrs=dict(a=3)) is True
diff --git a/tests/app/test_signaling.py b/tests/app/test_signaling.py
index 9010d9e8..fb8f8558 100644
--- a/tests/app/test_signaling.py
+++ b/tests/app/test_signaling.py
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ def test_signaler():
     signaler.push(attrs=dict(a=1), topic="/m")
     signaler.push(attrs=dict(a=2), topic="/m", ckey="abc")
     signaler.push(attrs=dict(a=3), topic="/m")
-    now = datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(minutes=11)
+    now = helping.nowUTC() - datetime.timedelta(minutes=11)
     signaler.push(attrs=dict(a=4), topic="/m", ckey="abc", dt=now)
 
     assert len(signaler.signals) == 3