diff --git a/release/Makefile b/release/Makefile
--- a/release/Makefile
+++ b/release/Makefile
@@ -250,11 +250,17 @@
 	echo loader_brand=\"install\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo loader_menu_multi_user_prompt=\"Installer\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	cp ${.CURDIR}/rc.local ${.TARGET}/etc
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/localtime ${.TARGET}/etc/localtime
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/wall_cmos_clock ${.TARGET}/etc/wall_cmos_clock
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/var/db/zoneinfo ${.TARGET}/var/db/zoneinfo
 	echo "./etc/resolv.conf type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_etc/resolv.conf" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/rc.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/sysctl.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./boot/loader.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/rc.local type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./etc/localtime type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/localtime" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./etc/wall_cmos_clock type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/wall_cmos_clock" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./var/db/zoneinfo type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/var/db/zoneinfo" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	touch ${.TARGET}
 
 bootonly:
@@ -291,11 +297,17 @@
 	echo loader_brand=\"install\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo loader_menu_multi_user_prompt=\"Installer\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	cp ${.CURDIR}/rc.local ${.TARGET}/etc
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/localtime ${.TARGET}/etc/localtime
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/wall_cmos_clock ${.TARGET}/etc/wall_cmos_clock
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/var/db/zoneinfo ${.TARGET}/var/db/zoneinfo
 	echo "./etc/resolv.conf type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_etc/resolv.conf" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/rc.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/sysctl.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./boot/loader.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/rc.local type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./etc/localtime type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/localtime" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./etc/wall_cmos_clock type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/wall_cmos_clock" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./var/db/zoneinfo type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/var/db/zoneinfo" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 
 dvd: ${PKGBASE_REPO}
 # Install system
@@ -347,11 +359,17 @@
 	echo loader_brand=\"install\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	echo loader_menu_multi_user_prompt=\"Installer\" >> ${.TARGET}/boot/loader.conf
 	cp ${.CURDIR}/rc.local ${.TARGET}/etc
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/localtime ${.TARGET}/etc/localtime
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/wall_cmos_clock ${.TARGET}/etc/wall_cmos_clock
+	ln -fs /tmp/bsdinstall_tz/var/db/zoneinfo ${.TARGET}/var/db/zoneinfo
 	echo "./etc/resolv.conf type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_etc/resolv.conf" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/rc.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/sysctl.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./boot/loader.conf type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	echo "./etc/rc.local type=file uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./etc/localtime type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/localtime" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./etc/wall_cmos_clock type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/etc/wall_cmos_clock" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
+	echo "./var/db/zoneinfo type=link uname=root gname=wheel mode=0644 link=/tmp/bsdinstall_tz/var/db/zoneinfo" >> ${.TARGET}/METALOG
 	touch ${.TARGET}
 
 disc1-disc1 disc1-memstick: disc1
diff --git a/tools/build/mk/OptionalObsoleteFiles.inc b/tools/build/mk/OptionalObsoleteFiles.inc
--- a/tools/build/mk/OptionalObsoleteFiles.inc
+++ b/tools/build/mk/OptionalObsoleteFiles.inc
@@ -422,9 +422,11 @@
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/pkgbase
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/rootpass
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/runconsoles
+OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/savetz
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/script
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/scriptedpart
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/services
+OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/settime
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/startbsdinstall
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/time
 OLD_FILES+=usr/libexec/bsdinstall/umount
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/bsdinstall b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/bsdinstall
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/bsdinstall
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/bsdinstall
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 : ${TMPDIR:="/tmp"}; export TMPDIR
 
 : ${BSDINSTALL_TMPETC="${TMPDIR}/bsdinstall_etc"}; export BSDINSTALL_TMPETC
+: ${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ="${TMPDIR}/bsdinstall_tz"}; export BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ
 : ${BSDINSTALL_TMPBOOT="${TMPDIR}/bsdinstall_boot"}; export BSDINSTALL_TMPBOOT
 : ${PATH_FSTAB="$BSDINSTALL_TMPETC/fstab"}; export PATH_FSTAB
 : ${BSDINSTALL_DISTDIR="/usr/freebsd-dist"}; export BSDINSTALL_DISTDIR
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@
 VERB="${1:-auto}"; shift
 
 [ -d "$BSDINSTALL_TMPETC" ] || mkdir -p "$BSDINSTALL_TMPETC"
+[ -d "$BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ" ] || mkdir -p "$BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ"
 [ -d "$BSDINSTALL_TMPBOOT" ] || mkdir -p "$BSDINSTALL_TMPBOOT"
 
 # Only enable debugging if debugFile is non-NULL and can be initialized
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/Makefile b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/Makefile
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/Makefile
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/Makefile
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@
 	netconfig_ipv6 \
 	pkgbase \
 	rootpass \
+	savetz \
 	script \
+	settime \
 	services \
 	time \
 	umount \
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/auto
@@ -194,6 +194,10 @@
 trap error SIGINT	# Catch cntrl-C here
 if [ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_HOSTNAME" ]; then bsdinstall hostname || error "Set hostname failed"; fi
 
+if [ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_TIME" ]; then
+	bsdinstall settime || error "Failed to set current time"
+fi
+
 if [ -f /usr/freebsd-packages/repos/FreeBSD-base-offline.conf ]; then
 	HAVE_BASE_PACKAGES=yes
 	PKGBASE_DEFAULT_BUTTON=--default-no
@@ -434,6 +438,10 @@
 	bsdinstall distextract || error "Distribution extract failed"
 fi
 
+if [ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_TIME" ]; then
+	bsdinstall savetz || error "Failed to save time zone config"
+fi
+
 # Set up boot loader
 bsdinstall bootconfig || error "Failed to configure bootloader"
 
@@ -445,7 +453,6 @@
 if [ "$NETCONFIG_DONE" != yes ]; then
 	bsdinstall netconfig	# Don't check for errors -- the user may cancel
 fi
-[ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_TIME" ] && bsdinstall time
 [ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_SERVICES" ] && bsdinstall services
 [ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_HARDENING" ] && bsdinstall hardening
 [ -z "$BSDINSTALL_SKIP_FIRMWARE" ] && bsdinstall firmware
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/savetz b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/savetz
new file mode 100755
--- /dev/null
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/savetz
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#!/bin/sh
+#-
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Jessica Clarke <jrtc27@FreeBSD.org>
+#
+
+BSDCFG_SHARE="/usr/share/bsdconfig"
+. $BSDCFG_SHARE/common.subr || exit 1
+
+cp -P "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/etc/localtime" "${BSDINSTALL_CHROOT}/etc/localtime"
+cp "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/var/db/zoneinfo" "${BSDINSTALL_CHROOT}/var/db/zoneinfo"
+if [ -f "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/etc/wall_cmos_clock" ]; then
+	cp "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/etc/wall_cmos_clock" "${BSDINSTALL_CHROOT}/etc/wall_cmos_clock"
+fi
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/settime
copy from usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time
copy to usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/settime
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/settime
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #-
 # Copyright (c) 2011 Nathan Whitehorn
 # All rights reserved.
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Jessica Clarke <jrtc27@FreeBSD.org>
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
 # modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
@@ -28,12 +29,23 @@
 BSDCFG_SHARE="/usr/share/bsdconfig"
 . $BSDCFG_SHARE/common.subr || exit 1
 
+error()
+{
+	bsddialog --backtitle "$OSNAME Installer" --title "Error" --msgbox "$1" 0 0
+	exit 1
+}
+
+mkdir -p "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/etc" || error "Could not create directory ${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/etc"
+mkdir -p "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/var/db" || error "Could not create directory ${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/var/db"
+ln -fs /usr "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/usr" || error "Could not create symlink ${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/usr"
+
 # Select timezone
-chroot $BSDINSTALL_CHROOT tzsetup -s
+tzsetup -s -C "${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}"
 
-# Switch to target timezone
+# Switch to target timezone whilst setting the date and time, even if not run
+# from installation media (where /etc/localtime will be a symlink to this).
 saved_TZ="$TZ"
-TZ="${BSDINSTALL_CHROOT}/etc/localtime"
+TZ="${BSDINSTALL_TMPTZ}/etc/localtime"
 export TZ
 
 # Set date
diff --git a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time
--- a/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time
+++ b/usr.sbin/bsdinstall/scripts/time
@@ -1,69 +1,18 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 #-
-# Copyright (c) 2011 Nathan Whitehorn
-# All rights reserved.
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: BSD-2-Clause
 #
-# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
-# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions
-# are met:
-# 1. Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
-#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
-# 2. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright
-#    notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the
-#    documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
-#
-# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR AND CONTRIBUTORS ``AS IS'' AND
-# ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
-# IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
-# ARE DISCLAIMED.  IN NO EVENT SHALL THE AUTHOR OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE
-# FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL
-# DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS
-# OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION)
-# HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT
-# LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
-# OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF
-# SUCH DAMAGE.
+# Copyright (c) 2025 Jessica Clarke <jrtc27@FreeBSD.org>
 #
 
 BSDCFG_SHARE="/usr/share/bsdconfig"
 . $BSDCFG_SHARE/common.subr || exit 1
 
-# Select timezone
-chroot $BSDINSTALL_CHROOT tzsetup -s
-
-# Switch to target timezone
-saved_TZ="$TZ"
-TZ="${BSDINSTALL_CHROOT}/etc/localtime"
-export TZ
-
-# Set date
-exec 5>&1
-DATE=$(bsddialog --backtitle "$OSNAME Installer" \
-	--title 'Time & Date' \
-	--ok-label 'Set Date' \
-	--cancel-label 'Skip' \
-	--default-no \
-	--date-format '%Y%m%d%H%M.%S' \
-	--calendar '' 0 40 \
-2>&1 1>&5) && date $DATE
-exec 5>&-
-
-# Set time
-exec 5>&1
-TIME=$(bsddialog --backtitle "$OSNAME Installer" \
-	--title 'Time & Date' \
-	--ok-label 'Set Time' \
-	--cancel-label 'Skip' \
-	--default-no \
-	--time-format '%H%M.%S' \
-	--timebox '' 0 40 \
-2>&1 1>&5) && date $TIME
-exec 5>&-
+error()
+{
+	bsddialog --backtitle "$OSNAME Installer" --title "Error" --msgbox "$1" 0 0
+	exit 1
+}
 
-# Switch back
-if [ -n "$saved_TZ" ]; then
-	TZ="$saved_TZ"
-else
-	unset TZ
-fi
-unset saved_TZ
+bsdinstall settime || error "Failed to set current time"
+bsdinstall savetz || error "Failed to save time zone config"