diff --git a/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix b/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
index ad734a71f01f..21512be201a3 100644
--- a/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
+++ b/nixos/tests/docker-tools.nix
@@ -90,13 +90,22 @@ import ./make-test-python.nix ({ pkgs, ... }: {
 
     with subtest("Ensure Docker images can use an unstable date"):
         docker.succeed(
-            "docker load --input='${examples.bash}'"
+            "docker load --input='${examples.unstableDate}'"
         )
         assert unix_time_second1 not in docker.succeed(
             "docker inspect ${examples.unstableDate.imageName} "
             + "| ${pkgs.jq}/bin/jq -r .[].Created"
         )
 
+    with subtest("Ensure Layered Docker images can use an unstable date"):
+        docker.succeed(
+            "docker load --input='${examples.unstableDateLayered}'"
+        )
+        assert unix_time_second1 not in docker.succeed(
+            "docker inspect ${examples.unstableDateLayered.imageName} "
+            + "| ${pkgs.jq}/bin/jq -r .[].Created"
+        )
+
     with subtest("Ensure Layered Docker images work"):
         docker.succeed(
             "docker load --input='${examples.layered-image}'",
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
index 068daa8df722..81dae9b61241 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/examples.nix
@@ -354,4 +354,14 @@ rec {
       Env = [ "USER=root" ];
     };
   };
+
+  # 20. Ensure that setting created to now results in a date which
+  # isn't the epoch + 1 for layered images.
+  unstableDateLayered = pkgs.dockerTools.buildLayeredImage {
+    name = "unstable-date-layered";
+    tag = "latest";
+    contents = [ pkgs.coreutils ];
+    created = "now";
+  };
+
 }
diff --git a/pkgs/build-support/docker/stream_layered_image.py b/pkgs/build-support/docker/stream_layered_image.py
index 9a13878a783d..8ffd336fce49 100644
--- a/pkgs/build-support/docker/stream_layered_image.py
+++ b/pkgs/build-support/docker/stream_layered_image.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ import pathlib
 import tarfile
 import itertools
 import threading
-from datetime import datetime
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
 from collections import namedtuple
 
 
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ def main():
         conf = json.load(f)
 
     created = (
-      datetime.now(tz=datetime.timezone.utc)
+      datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
       if conf["created"] == "now"
       else datetime.fromisoformat(conf["created"])
     )
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ def main():
             },
             "history": [
                 {
-                  "created": conf["created"],
+                  "created": datetime.isoformat(created),
                   "comment": f"store paths: {layer.paths}"
                 }
                 for layer in layers