diff --git a/mistral/services/triggers.py b/mistral/services/triggers.py
index e371c820b..19ec8a94c 100644
--- a/mistral/services/triggers.py
+++ b/mistral/services/triggers.py
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 import croniter
 import datetime
 import six
+import time
 
 from mistral.db.v2 import api as db_api
 from mistral.engine.rpc_backend import rpc
@@ -25,14 +26,19 @@ from mistral.workbook import parser
 
 
 def get_next_execution_time(pattern, start_time):
-    return croniter.croniter(pattern, start_time).get_next(datetime.datetime)
+    local_time = croniter.croniter(pattern, start_time).get_next(
+        datetime.datetime
+    )
+    epoch_second = time.mktime(local_time.timetuple())
+    utc_time = datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(epoch_second)
+    return utc_time
 
 
 # Triggers v2.
 
 def get_next_cron_triggers():
     return db_api.get_next_cron_triggers(
-        datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(0, 2)
+        datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(0, 2)
     )
 
 
@@ -42,7 +48,10 @@ def validate_cron_trigger_input(pattern, first_time, count):
             'Pattern or first_execution_time must be specified.'
         )
     if first_time:
-        if (datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(0, 60)) > first_time:
+        first_second = time.mktime(first_time.timetuple())
+        first_utc_time = datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(first_second)
+        sum_time = datetime.datetime.utcnow() + datetime.timedelta(0, 60)
+        if sum_time > first_utc_time:
             raise exc.InvalidModelException(
                 'first_execution_time must be at least 1 minute in the future.'
             )
@@ -76,8 +85,12 @@ def create_cron_trigger(name, workflow_name, workflow_input,
 
     validate_cron_trigger_input(pattern, first_time, count)
 
+    first_utc_time = first_time
+
     if first_time:
-        next_time = first_time
+        first_second = time.mktime(first_time.timetuple())
+        first_utc_time = datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(first_second)
+        next_time = first_utc_time
 
         if not (pattern or count):
             count = 1
@@ -98,7 +111,7 @@ def create_cron_trigger(name, workflow_name, workflow_input,
         values = {
             'name': name,
             'pattern': pattern,
-            'first_execution_time': first_time,
+            'first_execution_time': first_utc_time,
             'next_execution_time': next_time,
             'remaining_executions': count,
             'workflow_name': wf_def.name,
diff --git a/mistral/tests/unit/engine/test_cron_trigger.py b/mistral/tests/unit/engine/test_cron_trigger.py
index 26c559b85..d65f452ac 100644
--- a/mistral/tests/unit/engine/test_cron_trigger.py
+++ b/mistral/tests/unit/engine/test_cron_trigger.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
 #    See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 #    limitations under the License.
 import datetime
+import time
 
 import mock
 from oslo_config import cfg
@@ -145,8 +146,11 @@ class ProcessCronTriggerTest(base.EngineTestCase):
             None
         )
 
+        first_second = time.mktime(first_time.timetuple())
+        first_utc_time = datetime.datetime.utcfromtimestamp(first_second)
+
         self.assertEqual(
-            first_time,
+            first_utc_time,
             cron_trigger.next_execution_time
         )
 
diff --git a/mistral/tests/unit/services/test_trigger_service.py b/mistral/tests/unit/services/test_trigger_service.py
index 6aed8d23e..80ba1d40b 100644
--- a/mistral/tests/unit/services/test_trigger_service.py
+++ b/mistral/tests/unit/services/test_trigger_service.py
@@ -329,3 +329,9 @@ class TriggerServiceV2Test(base.DbTestCase):
         eventlet.sleep(1)
 
         return trigger_count == start_wf_mock.call_count
+
+    def test_get_next_execution_time(self):
+        pattern = '*/20 * * * *'
+        start_time = datetime.datetime(2016, 3, 22, 23, 40)
+        result = t_s.get_next_execution_time(pattern, start_time)
+        self.assertEqual(result, datetime.datetime(2016, 3, 23, 0, 0))