diff --git a/Makefile.am b/Makefile.am
index cc4fde7aa..d1004e1a8 100644
--- a/Makefile.am
+++ b/Makefile.am
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ BUILT_SOURCES = .version
 # See the rm_subst comment for details.
 dist-hook: gen-ChangeLog
 	$(AM_V_GEN)echo $(VERSION) > $(distdir)/.tarball-version
+	$(AM_V_GEN)date +%s > $(distdir)/.timestamp
 	$(AM_V_at)perl -pi -e '$(rm_subst)' $(distdir)/Makefile.in
 
 gen_start_date = 2008-02-08
diff --git a/man/dummy-man b/man/dummy-man
index bf31912b2..f05ce2ab4 100755
--- a/man/dummy-man
+++ b/man/dummy-man
@@ -48,11 +48,10 @@ inadequate on this system.  Creating a stub man page instead.
 END
 
 progname=`basename_ "$1"`
-year=`LC_ALL=C date +%Y`
 bs='\'
 
 cat >"$output" <<END
-.TH "$progname" 1 "$year" "$source" "User Commands"
+.TH "$progname" 1 "$source" "User Commands"
 .SH NAME
 $progname $bs- a $source program
 .SH DESCRIPTION
diff --git a/man/local.mk b/man/local.mk
index d1117606f..56eda6b8d 100644
--- a/man/local.mk
+++ b/man/local.mk
@@ -184,7 +184,8 @@ endif
 	  && $(MKDIR_P) $$t						\
 	  && (cd $$t && $(LN_S) '$(abs_top_builddir)/src/'$$prog$(EXEEXT) \
 				$$argv$(EXEEXT))			\
-	  && $(run_help2man)						\
+	&& : $${SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH=`cat $(srcdir)/.timestamp 2>/dev/null || :`} \
+	&& export SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH && $(run_help2man)			\
 		     --source='$(PACKAGE_STRING)'			\
 		     --include=$(srcdir)/man/$$name.x			\
 		     --output=$$t/$$name.1				\