diff --git a/salt/utils/jid.py b/salt/utils/jid.py
index 521cccc6ce58..7e6008df3acc 100644
--- a/salt/utils/jid.py
+++ b/salt/utils/jid.py
@@ -14,6 +14,13 @@
 LAST_JID_DATETIME = None
 
 
+def _utc_now():
+    '''
+    Helper method so tests do not have to patch the built-in method.
+    '''
+    return datetime.datetime.utcnow()
+
+
 def gen_jid(opts=None):
     '''
     Generate a jid
@@ -27,9 +34,9 @@ def gen_jid(opts=None):
         opts = {}
     global LAST_JID_DATETIME  # pylint: disable=global-statement
 
+    jid_dt = _utc_now()
     if not opts.get('unique_jid', False):
-        return '{0:%Y%m%d%H%M%S%f}'.format(datetime.datetime.now())
-    jid_dt = datetime.datetime.now()
+        return '{0:%Y%m%d%H%M%S%f}'.format(jid_dt)
     if LAST_JID_DATETIME and LAST_JID_DATETIME >= jid_dt:
         jid_dt = LAST_JID_DATETIME + datetime.timedelta(microseconds=1)
     LAST_JID_DATETIME = jid_dt
diff --git a/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py b/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py
index a988c3bcfe83..246c516a8cb4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py
+++ b/tests/unit/utils/test_jid.py
@@ -35,9 +35,8 @@ def test_is_jid(self):
 
     @skipIf(NO_MOCK, NO_MOCK_REASON)
     def test_gen_jid(self):
-        now = datetime.datetime(2002, 12, 25, 12, 00, 00, 00)
-        with patch('datetime.datetime'):
-            datetime.datetime.now.return_value = now
+        now = datetime.datetime(2002, 12, 25, 12, 0, 0, 0)
+        with patch('salt.utils.jid._utc_now', return_value=now):
             ret = salt.utils.jid.gen_jid({})
             self.assertEqual(ret, '20021225120000000000')
             salt.utils.jid.LAST_JID_DATETIME = None
@@ -45,3 +44,20 @@ def test_gen_jid(self):
             self.assertEqual(ret, '20021225120000000000_{0}'.format(os.getpid()))
             ret = salt.utils.jid.gen_jid({'unique_jid': True})
             self.assertEqual(ret, '20021225120000000001_{0}'.format(os.getpid()))
+
+    @skipIf(NO_MOCK, NO_MOCK_REASON)
+    def test_gen_jid_utc(self):
+        utcnow = datetime.datetime(2002, 12, 25, 12, 7, 0, 0)
+        with patch('salt.utils.jid._utc_now', return_value=utcnow):
+            ret = salt.utils.jid.gen_jid({'utc_jid': True})
+            self.assertEqual(ret, '20021225120700000000')
+
+    @skipIf(NO_MOCK, NO_MOCK_REASON)
+    def test_gen_jid_utc_unique(self):
+        utcnow = datetime.datetime(2002, 12, 25, 12, 7, 0, 0)
+        with patch('salt.utils.jid._utc_now', return_value=utcnow):
+            salt.utils.jid.LAST_JID_DATETIME = None
+            ret = salt.utils.jid.gen_jid({'utc_jid': True, 'unique_jid': True})
+            self.assertEqual(ret, '20021225120700000000_{0}'.format(os.getpid()))
+            ret = salt.utils.jid.gen_jid({'utc_jid': True, 'unique_jid': True})
+            self.assertEqual(ret, '20021225120700000001_{0}'.format(os.getpid()))