diff --git a/rslib/src/time.rs b/rslib/src/time.rs
index 8d9084c45..e392cbb6e 100644
--- a/rslib/src/time.rs
+++ b/rslib/src/time.rs
@@ -4,15 +4,35 @@
 use std::time;
 
 pub(crate) fn i64_unix_secs() -> i64 {
-    time::SystemTime::now()
-        .duration_since(time::SystemTime::UNIX_EPOCH)
-        .unwrap()
-        .as_secs() as i64
+    elapsed().as_secs() as i64
 }
 
 pub(crate) fn i64_unix_millis() -> i64 {
+    elapsed().as_millis() as i64
+}
+
+#[cfg(not(test))]
+fn elapsed() -> time::Duration {
     time::SystemTime::now()
         .duration_since(time::SystemTime::UNIX_EPOCH)
         .unwrap()
-        .as_millis() as i64
+}
+
+// when running in CI, shift the current time away from the cutoff point
+// to accomodate unit tests that depend on the current time
+#[cfg(test)]
+fn elapsed() -> time::Duration {
+    use chrono::{Local, Timelike};
+
+    let now = Local::now();
+
+    let mut elap = time::SystemTime::now()
+        .duration_since(time::SystemTime::UNIX_EPOCH)
+        .unwrap();
+
+    if now.hour() >= 2 && now.hour() < 4 {
+        elap -= time::Duration::from_secs(60 * 60 * 2);
+    }
+
+    elap
 }