diff --git a/bin/varnishd/cache/cache_vcl.c b/bin/varnishd/cache/cache_vcl.c
index de2c35502c..52c0f0a804 100644
--- a/bin/varnishd/cache/cache_vcl.c
+++ b/bin/varnishd/cache/cache_vcl.c
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 #include "cache_director.h"
 #include "cache_vcl.h"
 #include "vcli_serve.h"
+#include "vtim.h"
 
 const char * const VCL_TEMP_INIT = "init";
 const char * const VCL_TEMP_COLD = "cold";
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@ vcl_get_ctx(unsigned method, int msg)
 	handling_cli = 0;
 	ctx_cli.handling = &handling_cli;
 	ctx_cli.method = method;
+	ctx_cli.now = VTIM_real();
 	if (msg) {
 		ctx_cli.msg = VSB_new_auto();
 		AN(ctx_cli.msg);