diff --git a/packages/jumpstarter-driver-flashers/jumpstarter_driver_flashers/client.py b/packages/jumpstarter-driver-flashers/jumpstarter_driver_flashers/client.py
index f150b6fb5..e3dc92752 100644
--- a/packages/jumpstarter-driver-flashers/jumpstarter_driver_flashers/client.py
+++ b/packages/jumpstarter-driver-flashers/jumpstarter_driver_flashers/client.py
@@ -329,6 +329,13 @@ def _perform_flash_operation(
                 self.logger.error(f"Error running udhcpc: {e}")
                 raise FlashRetryableError(f"Error running udhcpc: {e}") from e
 
+            # make sure that the remote system has the right time without using NTP
+            # otherwise SSL certificate verification will fail
+            self.logger.info("Setting the remote DUT time to match the local system time")
+            current_timestamp = int(time.time())
+            console.sendline(f"date -s @{current_timestamp}")
+            console.expect(manifest.spec.login.prompt, timeout=EXPECT_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT)
+
             stored_cacert = None
             if should_download_to_httpd:
                 self._wait_for_storage_thread(storage_thread, error_queue)
@@ -383,12 +390,6 @@ def _setup_flasher_ssl(self, console, manifest, cacert_file: str | None) -> str
         Raises:
             RuntimeError: If there's an error reading the CA certificate file
         """
-        # make sure that the remote system has the right time without using NTP
-        # otherwise SSL certificate verification will fail
-        self.logger.info("Setting the remote DUT time to match the local system time")
-        current_timestamp = int(time.time())
-        console.sendline(f"date -s @{current_timestamp}")
-        console.expect(manifest.spec.login.prompt, timeout=EXPECT_TIMEOUT_DEFAULT)
 
         if cacert_file:
             cacert = b""