diff --git a/scripts/base/script.sh b/scripts/base/script.sh
index f4c49aa..d210296 100644
--- a/scripts/base/script.sh
+++ b/scripts/base/script.sh
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@ set -euo pipefail;
 
 source "$HL_LIB";
 
+_assert_vars HL_TIMEZONE;
+
 # update and install dependencies
 _ch_001-install() {
     sudo apt-get update;
@@ -31,4 +33,8 @@ _ch_004-firewall() {
     sudo ufw allow 22;
 }
 
+_ch_005-set_timezone() {
+    sudo timedatectl set-timezone "$HL_TIMEZONE";
+}
+
 _run_checkpoints;