diff --git a/oml/utils.py b/oml/utils.py
index b5623b1..b29a909 100644
--- a/oml/utils.py
+++ b/oml/utils.py
@@ -316,7 +316,10 @@ def remove_empty_tree(leaf):
         else:
             break
 
-utc_0 = int(time.mktime(datetime(1970, 1, 1).timetuple()))
+try:
+    utc_0 = int(time.mktime(datetime(1970, 1, 1).timetuple()))
+except:
+    utc_0 = int(time.mktime(time.gmtime()) - time.mktime(time.localtime()))
 
 def datetime2ts(dt):
     return int(time.mktime(dt.utctimetuple())) - utc_0