diff --git a/archinstall/lib/args.py b/archinstall/lib/args.py
index 93b7007289..d900cf8de3 100644
--- a/archinstall/lib/args.py
+++ b/archinstall/lib/args.py
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class ArchConfig:
 	packages: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 	parallel_downloads: int = 0
 	swap: bool = True
-	timezone: str = 'UTC'
+	timezone: str | None = None
 	services: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 	custom_commands: list[str] = field(default_factory=list)
 
@@ -213,8 +213,8 @@ def from_config(cls, args_config: dict[str, Any], args: Arguments) -> 'ArchConfi
 
 		arch_config.swap = args_config.get('swap', True)
 
-		if timezone := args_config.get('timezone', 'UTC'):
-			arch_config.timezone = timezone
+		if 'timezone' in args_config:
+			arch_config.timezone = args_config.get('timezone', 'UTC')
 
 		if services := args_config.get('services', []):
 			arch_config.services = services
diff --git a/archinstall/lib/global_menu.py b/archinstall/lib/global_menu.py
index edd66263d0..047636acb9 100644
--- a/archinstall/lib/global_menu.py
+++ b/archinstall/lib/global_menu.py
@@ -150,7 +150,8 @@ def _get_menu_options(self) -> list[MenuItem]:
 			MenuItem(
 				text=tr('Timezone'),
 				action=ask_for_a_timezone,
-				value='UTC',
+				value=None,
+				mandatory=True,
 				preview_action=self._prev_tz,
 				key='timezone',
 			),