diff --git a/support/testing/infra/emulator.py b/support/testing/infra/emulator.py
index ef5be2a19e..9be1143944 100644
--- a/support/testing/infra/emulator.py
+++ b/support/testing/infra/emulator.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import os
 
 import pexpect
 import pexpect.replwrap
+import time
 
 import infra
 
@@ -152,6 +153,10 @@ class Emulator(object):
 
         self.connect_shell()
 
+        output, exit_code = self.run(f"date @{int(time.time())}")
+        if exit_code:
+            raise SystemError("Cannot set date in virtual machine")
+
     def connect_shell(self):
         extra_init_cmd = " && ".join([
             'export PAGER=cat',