diff --git a/src/core/null_time.c b/src/core/null_time.c
index 90041a456..15d8a57a5 100644
--- a/src/core/null_time.c
+++ b/src/core/null_time.c
@@ -30,5 +30,17 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER_OR_UBDL );
  */
 
 #include <ipxe/time.h>
+#include <ipxe/timer.h>
 
-PROVIDE_TIME_INLINE ( null, time_now );
+/**
+ * Get current time in seconds
+ *
+ * @ret time		Time, in seconds
+ */
+static time_t null_now ( void ) {
+
+	/* Provide a non-absolute timer bassed on currticks() */
+	return ( currticks() / TICKS_PER_SEC );
+}
+
+PROVIDE_TIME ( null, time_now, null_now );
diff --git a/src/include/ipxe/null_time.h b/src/include/ipxe/null_time.h
index d2b15194b..c670a5fce 100644
--- a/src/include/ipxe/null_time.h
+++ b/src/include/ipxe/null_time.h
@@ -15,9 +15,4 @@ FILE_LICENCE ( GPL2_OR_LATER_OR_UBDL );
 #define TIME_PREFIX_null __null_
 #endif
 
-static inline __always_inline time_t
-TIME_INLINE ( null, time_now ) ( void ) {
-	return 0;
-}
-
 #endif /* _IPXE_NULL_TIME_H */