diff --git a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/PersonIdent.java b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/PersonIdent.java
index 1c174aa03..49d727f8e 100644
--- a/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/PersonIdent.java
+++ b/org.eclipse.jgit/src/org/eclipse/jgit/lib/PersonIdent.java
@@ -99,7 +99,10 @@ public PersonIdent(final PersonIdent pi) {
 	 * @param aEmailAddress
 	 */
 	public PersonIdent(final String aName, final String aEmailAddress) {
-		this(aName, aEmailAddress, new Date(), TimeZone.getDefault());
+		name = aName;
+		emailAddress = aEmailAddress;
+		when = SystemReader.getInstance().getCurrentTime();
+		tzOffset = SystemReader.getInstance().getTimezone(when);
 	}
 
 	/**