diff --git a/include/Reading.hpp b/include/Reading.hpp
index 7e88e163..0e17853b 100644
--- a/include/Reading.hpp
+++ b/include/Reading.hpp
@@ -180,6 +180,10 @@ class Reading {
 	int64_t time_ms() const { return ((int64_t)_time.tv_sec) * 1e3 + (_time.tv_usec / 1e3); };
 	long time_s() const { return _time.tv_sec; }; // return only the seconds (always rounding down)
 	void time() { gettimeofday(&_time, NULL); }
+	void time(time_t v) {
+		_time.tv_sec = v;
+		_time.tv_usec = 0;
+	}
 	void time(struct timeval const &v) { _time = v; }
 	void time(struct timespec const &v) {
 		_time.tv_sec = v.tv_sec;
diff --git a/src/protocols/MeterD0.cpp b/src/protocols/MeterD0.cpp
index f2f0faa4..8f33f641 100644
--- a/src/protocols/MeterD0.cpp
+++ b/src/protocols/MeterD0.cpp
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ ssize_t MeterD0::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t max_readings) {
 	char endseq[2 + 1]; // Endsequence ! not ?!
 	size_t number_of_tuples;
 	int bytes_read;
-	time_t start_time, end_time;
+	time_t start_time, act_time, cur_time;
 	struct termios tio;
 	int baudrate_connect, baudrate_read; // Baudrates for switching
 
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ ssize_t MeterD0::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t max_readings) {
 			  wlen);
 	}
 
-	time(&start_time);
+	time(&act_time);
 
 	byte_iterator = number_of_tuples = baudrate = 0;
 	byte = lastbyte = 0;
@@ -474,8 +474,8 @@ ssize_t MeterD0::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t max_readings) {
 	while (1) {
 		_safe_to_cancel();
 		// check for timeout
-		time(&end_time);
-		if (difftime(end_time, start_time) > _read_timeout_s) {
+		time(&cur_time);
+		if (difftime(cur_time, act_time) > _read_timeout_s) {
 			print(log_error, "nothing received for more than %d seconds", name().c_str(),
 				  _read_timeout_s);
 			dump_file(CTRL, "timeout!");
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ ssize_t MeterD0::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t max_readings) {
 
 		// reset timeout if we are making progress
 		if (context != START) {
-			time(&start_time);
+			time(&act_time);
 		}
 
 		lastbyte = byte;
@@ -513,6 +513,7 @@ ssize_t MeterD0::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t max_readings) {
 		case START:            // strip the initial "/"
 			if (byte == '/') { // if ((byte != '\r') &&  (byte != '\n')) { 	// allow extra new line
 							   // at the start
+				time(&start_time);                    // remember time of start of transmission
 				byte_iterator = number_of_tuples = 0; // start
 				context = VENDOR;                     // set new context: START -> VENDOR
 			} // else ignore the other chars. -> Wait for / (!? is checked above already)
@@ -794,7 +795,7 @@ ssize_t MeterD0::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t max_readings) {
 						Obis obis(obis_code);
 						ReadingIdentifier *rid(new ObisIdentifier(obis));
 						rds[number_of_tuples].identifier(rid);
-						rds[number_of_tuples].time();
+						rds[number_of_tuples].time(start_time);
 						number_of_tuples++;
 					} catch (vz::VZException &e) {
 						print(log_alert, "Failed to parse obis code (%s)", name().c_str(),
diff --git a/src/protocols/MeterSML.cpp b/src/protocols/MeterSML.cpp
index 5bdaf33e..06ba25d8 100644
--- a/src/protocols/MeterSML.cpp
+++ b/src/protocols/MeterSML.cpp
@@ -242,6 +242,7 @@ ssize_t MeterSML::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t n) {
 
 	unsigned char buffer[SML_BUFFER_LEN];
 	size_t bytes, m = 0;
+	struct timeval tv;
 
 	sml_file *file;
 	sml_get_list_response *body;
@@ -263,6 +264,7 @@ ssize_t MeterSML::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t n) {
 
 	/* wait until we receive a new datagram from the meter (blocking read) */
 	CANCELLABLE(bytes = sml_transport_read(_fd, buffer, SML_BUFFER_LEN));
+  gettimeofday(&tv, NULL);
 
 	if (0 == bytes) {
 		// try to reopen. see issue #362
@@ -291,8 +293,11 @@ ssize_t MeterSML::read(std::vector<Reading> &rds, size_t n) {
 
 			/* iterating through linked list */
 			for (; m < n && entry != NULL;) {
-				if (_parse(entry, &rds[m]))
+				if (_parse(entry, &rds[m])) {
+					if (_use_local_time || !rds[m].time_s())
+						rds[m].time(tv);
 					m++;
+				}
 				entry = entry->next;
 			}
 		}
@@ -326,15 +331,12 @@ bool MeterSML::_parse(sml_list *entry, Reading *rd) {
 		ReadingIdentifier *rid(new ObisIdentifier(obis));
 		rd->identifier(rid);
 
-		// TODO handle SML_TIME_SEC_INDEX or time by SML File/Message
-		struct timeval tv;
-		if (!_use_local_time && entry->val_time) { /* use time from meter */
+		// TODO handle SML_TIME_SEC_INDEX
+		if (entry->val_time) { /* use time from meter */
+			struct timeval tv = {0, 0};
 			tv.tv_sec = *entry->val_time->data.timestamp;
-			tv.tv_usec = 0;
-		} else {
-			gettimeofday(&tv, NULL); /* use local time */
+			rd->time(tv);
 		}
-		rd->time(tv);
 		return true;
 	}
 	return false;