diff --git a/include/kernel-defaults.mk b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
index cc1e2361be..db93a53d71 100644
--- a/include/kernel-defaults.mk
+++ b/include/kernel-defaults.mk
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ ifneq ($(CONFIG_TARGET_ROOTFS_INITRAMFS),)
 define Kernel/CompileImage/Initramfs
 	$(call Kernel/Configure/Initramfs)
 	$(CP) $(GENERIC_PLATFORM_DIR)/other-files/init $(TARGET_DIR)/init
+	$(if $(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH),touch -hcd "@$(SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH)" $(TARGET_DIR)/init)
 	rm -rf $(KERNEL_BUILD_DIR)/linux-$(LINUX_VERSION)/usr/initramfs_data.cpio*
 	+$(KERNEL_MAKE) $(if $(KERNELNAME),$(KERNELNAME),all) modules
 	$(call Kernel/CopyImage,-initramfs)