diff --git a/example_config.toml b/example_config.toml
index 08bf313..b82878a 100644
--- a/example_config.toml
+++ b/example_config.toml
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ is_log_timed = true
 log_limit = 1073741824
 # If true, then make the build fail if the limit is reached
 error_on_limit = false
+# If true, timestamps are in localtime. If false, timestamps are UTC.
+datetime_in_local_time = true
 ########## END OF MANDATORY VARIABLES
 
 # Each [[entry]] needs a "name".
diff --git a/update.py b/update.py
index c0a3114..08666ad 100755
--- a/update.py
+++ b/update.py
@@ -1833,6 +1833,14 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
         other_state["gpg_home"] = d["gpg_dir"]
         other_state["logs_dir"] = d["logs_dir"]
         other_state["clones_dir"] = d["clones_dir"]
+        if (
+            "datetime_in_local_time" in d
+            and type(d["datetime_in_local_time"]) is bool
+            and d["datetime_in_local_time"]
+        ):
+            other_state["datetime_in_local_time"] = True
+        else:
+            other_state["datetime_in_local_time"] = False
         if other_state["logs_dir"] is not None:
             GLOBAL_LOG_FILE = other_state["logs_dir"] + "/update.py_logs"
             log_print(
@@ -1902,14 +1910,6 @@ if __name__ == "__main__":
                 other_state["error_on_limit"]
             )
         )
-        if (
-            "datetime_in_local_time" in d
-            and type(d["datetime_in_local_time"]) is bool
-            and d["datetime_in_local_time"]
-        ):
-            other_state["datetime_in_local_time"] = True
-        else:
-            other_state["datetime_in_local_time"] = False
     else:
         log_print(
             'ERROR: At least "--config" or "--pkg" must be specified',