diff --git a/io/channel-websock.c b/io/channel-websock.c
index 03c1f7cb62..70889bb54d 100644
--- a/io/channel-websock.c
+++ b/io/channel-websock.c
@@ -177,15 +177,9 @@ qio_channel_websock_handshake_send_res(QIOChannelWebsock *ioc,
 
 static gchar *qio_channel_websock_date_str(void)
 {
-    struct tm tm;
-    time_t now = time(NULL);
-    char datebuf[128];
+    g_autoptr(GDateTime) now = g_date_time_new_now_utc();
 
-    gmtime_r(&now, &tm);
-
-    strftime(datebuf, sizeof(datebuf), "%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S GMT", &tm);
-
-    return g_strdup(datebuf);
+    return g_date_time_format(now, "%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S GMT");
 }
 
 static void qio_channel_websock_handshake_send_res_err(QIOChannelWebsock *ioc,