diff --git a/rally/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/utils.py b/rally/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/utils.py
index 2733804b..b366a63e 100644
--- a/rally/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/utils.py
+++ b/rally/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/utils.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 #    License for the specific language governing permissions and limitations
 #    under the License.
 
-import datetime
+import datetime as dt
 
 import six
 
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ class CeilometerScenario(scenario.OpenStackScenario):
             if v:
                 sample.update({k: v})
         len_meta = len(metadata_list) if metadata_list else 0
-        now = timestamp or datetime.datetime.utcnow()
+        now = timestamp or dt.datetime.utcnow()
         samples = []
         for i in six.moves.xrange(count):
             if i and not (i % batch_size):
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class CeilometerScenario(scenario.OpenStackScenario):
                 samples = []
             sample_item = dict(sample)
             sample_item["timestamp"] = (
-                now - datetime.timedelta(seconds=(interval * i))
+                now - dt.timedelta(seconds=(interval * i))
             ).isoformat()
             if metadata_list:
                 # NOTE(idegtiarov): Adding more than one template of metadata
diff --git a/tests/hacking/README.rst b/tests/hacking/README.rst
index e99dbee4..d6d21a14 100644
--- a/tests/hacking/README.rst
+++ b/tests/hacking/README.rst
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ Rally Specific Commandments
 * [N353] - Ensure that unicode() function is not uset because of absence in py3
 * [N354] - Ensure that ``:raises: Exception`` is not used
 * [N355] - Ensure that we use only "new-style" Python classes
+* [N356] - Ensure using ``dt`` as alias for ``datetime``
 * [N360-N370] - Reserved for rules related to CLI
  * [N360] - Ensure that CLI modules do not use ``rally.common.db``
  * [N361] - Ensure that CLI modules do not use ``rally.common.objects``
diff --git a/tests/hacking/checks.py b/tests/hacking/checks.py
index f67cb268..c422175a 100644
--- a/tests/hacking/checks.py
+++ b/tests/hacking/checks.py
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ re_raises = re.compile(
 re_db_import = re.compile(r"^from rally.common import db")
 re_objects_import = re.compile(r"^from rally.common import objects")
 re_old_type_class = re.compile(r"^\s*class \w+(\(\))?:")
+re_datetime_alias = re.compile(r"^(from|import) datetime(?!\s+as\s+dt$)")
 
 
 def skip_ignored_lines(func):
@@ -489,6 +490,16 @@ def check_old_type_class(logical_line, physical_line, filename):
                   "``object`` or another new-style class.")
 
 
+@skip_ignored_lines
+def check_datetime_alias(logical_line, physical_line, filename):
+    """Ensure using ``dt`` as alias for ``datetime``
+
+    N356
+    """
+    if re_datetime_alias.search(logical_line):
+        yield (0, "N356 Please use ``dt`` as alias for ``datetime``.")
+
+
 @skip_ignored_lines
 def check_db_imports_in_cli(logical_line, physical_line, filename):
     """Ensure that CLI modules do not use ``rally.common.db``
@@ -534,6 +545,7 @@ def factory(register):
     register(check_dict_formatting_in_string)
     register(check_using_unicode)
     register(check_raises)
+    register(check_datetime_alias)
     register(check_db_imports_in_cli)
     register(check_objects_imports_in_cli)
     register(check_old_type_class)
diff --git a/tests/unit/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/test_utils.py b/tests/unit/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/test_utils.py
index 44050fb6..5021f33a 100644
--- a/tests/unit/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/test_utils.py
+++ b/tests/unit/plugins/openstack/scenarios/ceilometer/test_utils.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 #    under the License.
 
 import copy
-import datetime
+import datetime as dt
 
 from dateutil import parser
 import mock
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class CeilometerScenarioTestCase(test.ScenarioTestCase):
     def test__make_samples_no_batch_size(self):
         self.scenario.generate_random_name = mock.Mock(
             return_value="fake_resource")
-        test_timestamp = datetime.datetime(2015, 10, 20, 14, 18, 40)
+        test_timestamp = dt.datetime(2015, 10, 20, 14, 18, 40)
         result = list(self.scenario._make_samples(count=2, interval=60,
                                                   timestamp=test_timestamp))
         self.assertEqual(1, len(result))
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ class CeilometerScenarioTestCase(test.ScenarioTestCase):
     def test__make_samples_batch_size(self):
         self.scenario.generate_random_name = mock.Mock(
             return_value="fake_resource")
-        test_timestamp = datetime.datetime(2015, 10, 20, 14, 18, 40)
+        test_timestamp = dt.datetime(2015, 10, 20, 14, 18, 40)
         result = list(self.scenario._make_samples(count=4, interval=60,
                                                   batch_size=2,
                                                   timestamp=test_timestamp))
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_hacking.py b/tests/unit/test_hacking.py
index d8dec906..821cda69 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_hacking.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_hacking.py
@@ -376,3 +376,17 @@ class HackingTestCase(test.TestCase):
         checkres = checks.check_old_type_class(line, line, "fakefile")
         self.assertIsNotNone(next(checkres))
         self.assertEqual([], list(checkres))
+
+    def test_check_datetime_alias(self):
+        lines = ["import datetime as date",
+                 "import datetime",
+                 "import datetime as dto",
+                 "from datetime import datetime as dtime"]
+
+        for line in lines:
+            checkres = checks.check_datetime_alias(line, line, "fakefile")
+            self.assertIsNotNone(next(checkres))
+            self.assertEqual([], list(checkres))
+
+        line = "import datetime as dt"
+        checkres = checks.check_datetime_alias(line, line, "fakefile")