diff --git a/cmd/podman/machine/init.go b/cmd/podman/machine/init.go
index adde887f74..bee6844df8 100644
--- a/cmd/podman/machine/init.go
+++ b/cmd/podman/machine/init.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ func init() {
 	})
 	flags := initCmd.Flags()
 	cfg := registry.PodmanConfig()
-
 	cpusFlagName := "cpus"
 	flags.Uint64Var(
 		&initOpts.CPUS,
@@ -69,6 +68,13 @@ func init() {
 		"now", false,
 		"Start machine now",
 	)
+	timezoneFlagName := "timezone"
+	defaultTz := cfg.TZ()
+	if len(defaultTz) < 1 {
+		defaultTz = "local"
+	}
+	flags.StringVar(&initOpts.TimeZone, timezoneFlagName, defaultTz, "Set timezone")
+	_ = initCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc(timezoneFlagName, completion.AutocompleteDefault)
 
 	ImagePathFlagName := "image-path"
 	flags.StringVar(&initOpts.ImagePath, ImagePathFlagName, cfg.Machine.Image, "Path to qcow image")
diff --git a/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-init.1.md b/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-init.1.md
index 3abc7c9ea5..aead6c695e 100644
--- a/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-init.1.md
+++ b/docs/source/markdown/podman-machine-init.1.md
@@ -55,6 +55,12 @@ Memory (in MB).
 
 Start the virtual machine immediately after it has been initialized.
 
+#### **--timezone**
+
+Set the timezone for the machine and containers.  Valid values are `local` or
+a `timezone` such as `America/Chicago`.  A value of `local`, which is the default,
+means to use the timezone of the machine host.
+
 #### **--help**
 
 Print usage statement.
diff --git a/pkg/machine/config.go b/pkg/machine/config.go
index 55d5dd7b4d..e5e7013036 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/config.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/config.go
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ type InitOptions struct {
 	IsDefault    bool
 	Memory       uint64
 	Name         string
+	TimeZone     string
 	URI          url.URL
 	Username     string
 }
diff --git a/pkg/machine/ignition.go b/pkg/machine/ignition.go
index 5c465d37dc..9368cc8ed3 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/ignition.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/ignition.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io/ioutil"
 	"net/url"
+	"path/filepath"
 )
 
 /*
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@ func getNodeGrp(grpName string) NodeGroup {
 type DynamicIgnition struct {
 	Name      string
 	Key       string
+	TimeZone  string
 	VMName    string
 	WritePath string
 }
@@ -76,6 +78,37 @@ func NewIgnitionFile(ign DynamicIgnition) error {
 		Links:       getLinks(ign.Name),
 	}
 
+	// Add or set the time zone for the machine
+	if len(ign.TimeZone) > 0 {
+		var (
+			err error
+			tz  string
+		)
+		// local means the same as the host
+		// lookup where it is pointing to on the host
+		if ign.TimeZone == "local" {
+			tz, err = getLocalTimeZone()
+			if err != nil {
+				return err
+			}
+		} else {
+			tz = ign.TimeZone
+		}
+		tzLink := Link{
+			Node: Node{
+				Group:     getNodeGrp("root"),
+				Path:      "/etc/localtime",
+				Overwrite: boolToPtr(false),
+				User:      getNodeUsr("root"),
+			},
+			LinkEmbedded1: LinkEmbedded1{
+				Hard:   boolToPtr(false),
+				Target: filepath.Join("/usr/share/zoneinfo", tz),
+			},
+		}
+		ignStorage.Links = append(ignStorage.Links, tzLink)
+	}
+
 	// ready is a unit file that sets up the virtual serial device
 	// where when the VM is done configuring, it will send an ack
 	// so a listening host knows it can being interacting with it
diff --git a/pkg/machine/ignition_darwin.go b/pkg/machine/ignition_darwin.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9ede4b026e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/machine/ignition_darwin.go
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+//+build darwin
+
+package machine
+
+import (
+	"os"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func getLocalTimeZone() (string, error) {
+	tzPath, err := os.Readlink("/etc/localtime")
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(tzPath, "/var/db/timezone/zoneinfo"), nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/machine/ignition_linux.go b/pkg/machine/ignition_linux.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6db5a8e7a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/machine/ignition_linux.go
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+package machine
+
+import (
+	"os/exec"
+	"strings"
+)
+
+func getLocalTimeZone() (string, error) {
+	output, err := exec.Command("timedatectl", "show", "--property=Timezone").Output()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	// Remove prepended field and the newline
+	return strings.TrimPrefix(strings.TrimSuffix(string(output), "\n"), "Timezone="), nil
+}
diff --git a/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go b/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go
index 57c32bf748..19cd131e1e 100644
--- a/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go
+++ b/pkg/machine/qemu/machine.go
@@ -145,6 +145,7 @@ func (v *MachineVM) Init(opts machine.InitOptions) error {
 		// Get image as usual
 		v.ImageStream = opts.ImagePath
 		dd, err := machine.NewFcosDownloader(vmtype, v.Name, opts.ImagePath)
+
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -235,6 +236,7 @@ func (v *MachineVM) Init(opts machine.InitOptions) error {
 		Name:      opts.Username,
 		Key:       key,
 		VMName:    v.Name,
+		TimeZone:  opts.TimeZone,
 		WritePath: v.IgnitionFilePath,
 	}
 	return machine.NewIgnitionFile(ign)