diff --git a/src/pkg/net/hosts.go b/src/pkg/net/hosts.go
index e6674ba341..9400503e41 100644
--- a/src/pkg/net/hosts.go
+++ b/src/pkg/net/hosts.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ func readHosts() {
 			}
 		}
 		// Update the data cache.
-		hosts.expire = time.Now().Add(cacheMaxAge)
+		hosts.expire = now.Add(cacheMaxAge)
 		hosts.path = hp
 		hosts.byName = hs
 		hosts.byAddr = is