diff --git a/src/util/time.cpp b/src/util/time.cpp
index 9e0715e5250..1466dc01f85 100644
--- a/src/util/time.cpp
+++ b/src/util/time.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,8 @@ static std::atomic<std::chrono::seconds> g_mock_time{}; //!< For testing
 std::atomic<bool> g_used_system_time{false};
 static std::atomic<MockableSteadyClock::mock_time_point::duration> g_mock_steady_time{}; //!< For testing
 
+static_assert(NodeClock::epoch.time_since_epoch().count() == 0);
+
 NodeClock::time_point NodeClock::now() noexcept
 {
     const auto mocktime{g_mock_time.load(std::memory_order_relaxed)};
diff --git a/src/util/time.h b/src/util/time.h
index 30d363bb612..15d00e80843 100644
--- a/src/util/time.h
+++ b/src/util/time.h
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ struct NodeClock : public std::chrono::system_clock {
     static time_point now() noexcept;
     static std::time_t to_time_t(const time_point&) = delete; // unused
     static time_point from_time_t(std::time_t) = delete;      // unused
+    static constexpr time_point epoch{};
 };
 using NodeSeconds = std::chrono::time_point<NodeClock, std::chrono::seconds>;