diff --git a/jrnl/util.py b/jrnl/util.py
index 28499933..4fc2575b 100644
--- a/jrnl/util.py
+++ b/jrnl/util.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import sys
 import os
 from tzlocal import get_localzone
 import getpass as gp
+import pytz
 
 PY3 = sys.version_info[0] == 3
 PY2 = sys.version_info[0] == 2
@@ -41,6 +42,13 @@ def get_local_timezone():
     global __cached_tz
     if not __cached_tz and "darwin" in sys.platform:
         __cached_tz = os.popen("systemsetup -gettimezone").read().replace("Time Zone: ", "").strip()
-    elif not __cached_tz:
+    if not __cached_tz or __cached_tz not in pytz.all_timezones_set:
+        link = os.readlink("/etc/localtime")
+        # This is something like /usr/share/zoneinfo/America/Los_Angeles.
+        # Find second / from right and take the substring
+        __cached_tz = link[link.rfind('/', 0, link.rfind('/'))+1:]
+    if not __cached_tz or __cached_tz not in pytz.all_timezones_set:
         __cached_tz = str(get_localzone())
+    if not __cached_tz or __cached_tz not in pytz.all_timezones_set:
+        __cached_tz = "UTC"
     return __cached_tz