diff --git a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/dprocedures/dolt_commit.go b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/dprocedures/dolt_commit.go
index 676400ecc3..08b97e3d64 100644
--- a/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/dprocedures/dolt_commit.go
+++ b/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/dprocedures/dolt_commit.go
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/dolthub/dolt/go/libraries/doltcore/dconfig"
 	"github.com/dolthub/dolt/go/libraries/doltcore/env/actions"
 	"github.com/dolthub/dolt/go/libraries/doltcore/sqle/dsess"
+	"github.com/dolthub/dolt/go/store/datas"
 	"github.com/dolthub/go-mysql-server/sql"
 	"github.com/dolthub/go-mysql-server/sql/types"
 )
@@ -131,6 +132,8 @@ func doDoltCommit(ctx *sql.Context, args []string) (string, bool, error) {
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", false, fmt.Errorf(err.Error())
 		}
+	} else if datas.CustomAuthorDate {
+		t = datas.AuthorDate()
 	}
 
 	if apr.Contains(cli.ForceFlag) {
diff --git a/go/store/datas/commit_meta.go b/go/store/datas/commit_meta.go
index dd513f6020..2372dc2bb2 100644
--- a/go/store/datas/commit_meta.go
+++ b/go/store/datas/commit_meta.go
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ var CommitterDate = time.Now
 var CommitLoc = time.Local
 
 var AuthorDate = time.Now
+var CustomAuthorDate bool
 var AuthorLoc = time.Local
 
 // CommitMeta contains all the metadata that is associated with a commit within a data repo.
@@ -73,9 +74,10 @@ func init() {
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Warnf("Unable to parse value for %s: %s. System time will be used instead.",
 				dconfig.EnvDoltCommitterDate, err.Error())
-		}
-		CommitterDate = func() time.Time {
-			return committerDate
+		} else {
+			CommitterDate = func() time.Time {
+				return committerDate
+			}
 		}
 	}
 	
@@ -85,9 +87,11 @@ func init() {
 		if err != nil {
 			logrus.Warnf("Unable to parse value for %s: %s. System time will be used instead.",
 				dconfig.EnvDoltAuthorDate, err.Error())
-		}
-		AuthorDate = func() time.Time {
-			return authorDate
+		} else {
+			AuthorDate = func() time.Time {
+				return authorDate
+			}
+			CustomAuthorDate = true
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/integration-tests/bats/commit.bats b/integration-tests/bats/commit.bats
index 1b95e44580..8a21685000 100644
--- a/integration-tests/bats/commit.bats
+++ b/integration-tests/bats/commit.bats
@@ -227,5 +227,5 @@ SQL
 }
 
 dolt_log_in_PST() {
-    TZ=PST-7 dolt log -n1
+    TZ=PST+8 dolt log -n1
 }