diff --git a/boards/common/native/board_init.c b/boards/common/native/board_init.c
index 4cdc6b4de4..19ad0bb8b4 100644
--- a/boards/common/native/board_init.c
+++ b/boards/common/native/board_init.c
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ VFS_AUTO_MOUNT(native, { .hostpath = FS_NATIVE_DIR }, VFS_DEFAULT_NVM(0), 0);
  */
 void board_init(void)
 {
+    if (!getenv("TZ")) {
+        puts("TZ not set, setting UTC");
+    }
     setenv("TZ", "UTC", 0);
     puts("RIOT " RIOT_BOARD " board initialized.");
 }