diff --git a/bin/tests/system/statschannel/generic.py b/bin/tests/system/statschannel/generic.py
index bf4b038992..9e926537cc 100644
--- a/bin/tests/system/statschannel/generic.py
+++ b/bin/tests/system/statschannel/generic.py
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ fmt = "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%SZ"
 # The constants were taken from BIND 9 source code (lib/dns/zone.c)
 max_refresh = timedelta(seconds=2419200)  # 4 weeks
 max_expires = timedelta(seconds=14515200)  # 24 weeks
-now = datetime.utcnow().replace(microsecond=0)
 dayzero = datetime.utcfromtimestamp(0).replace(microsecond=0)
 
 
@@ -34,21 +33,20 @@ def check_refresh(refresh, min_time, max_time):
     assert refresh <= max_time
 
 
-def check_loaded(loaded, expected):  # pylint: disable=unused-argument
+def check_loaded(loaded, expected, now):
     # Sanity check the zone timers values
-    # NOTE This check has been disabled due to GL #3983
-    # assert loaded == expected
-    # assert loaded < now
-    pass
+    assert loaded == expected
+    assert loaded <= now
 
 
 def check_zone_timers(loaded, expires, refresh, loaded_exp):
+    now = datetime.utcnow().replace(microsecond=0)
     # Sanity checks the zone timers values
     if expires is not None:
         check_expires(expires, now, now + max_expires)
     if refresh is not None:
         check_refresh(refresh, now, now + max_refresh)
-    check_loaded(loaded, loaded_exp)
+    check_loaded(loaded, loaded_exp, now)
 
 
 #
diff --git a/lib/dns/zone.c b/lib/dns/zone.c
index ad49b3bf97..3b9513674d 100644
--- a/lib/dns/zone.c
+++ b/lib/dns/zone.c
@@ -17662,6 +17662,12 @@ again:
 			DNS_ZONE_TIME_ADD(&now, zone->expire,
 					  &zone->expiretime);
 		}
+
+		/*
+		 * Set loadtime.
+		 */
+		zone->loadtime = now;
+
 		if (result == ISC_R_SUCCESS && xfrresult == ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 			char buf[DNS_NAME_FORMATSIZE + sizeof(": TSIG ''")];
 			if (zone->tsigkey != NULL) {