diff --git a/lib/krb5/keytab.c b/lib/krb5/keytab.c
index 559d640f0..bcb3ed837 100644
--- a/lib/krb5/keytab.c
+++ b/lib/krb5/keytab.c
@@ -883,7 +883,8 @@ krb5_kt_add_entry(krb5_context context,
 			       id->prefix);
 	return KRB5_KT_NOWRITE;
     }
-    entry->timestamp = time(NULL);
+    if (entry->timestamp == 0)
+        entry->timestamp = time(NULL);
     return (*id->add)(context, id,entry);
 }