diff --git a/assets/runtime/functions b/assets/runtime/functions
index 566b07f3..1b6b6125 100644
--- a/assets/runtime/functions
+++ b/assets/runtime/functions
@@ -215,6 +215,12 @@ gitlab_configure_unicorn() {
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{UNICORN_TIMEOUT}}/'"${UNICORN_TIMEOUT}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/unicorn.rb
 }
 
+gitlab_configure_timezone() {
+  echo "Configuring gitlab::timezone..."
+  GITLAB_TIMEZONE="$(echo "${GITLAB_TIMEZONE}" | sed 's/[\/&]/\\&/g')"
+  exec_as_git sed -i 's|{{GITLAB_TIMEZONE}}|'"${GITLAB_TIMEZONE}"'|' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
+}
+
 gitlab_configure_mail_delivery() {
   if [[ ${SMTP_ENABLED} == true ]]; then
     echo "Configuring gitlab::smtp_settings..."
@@ -869,7 +875,6 @@ configure_gitlab() {
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_MAX_SIZE}}/'"${GITLAB_MAX_SIZE}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_SSH_HOST}}/'"${GITLAB_SSH_HOST}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_SSH_PORT}}/'"${GITLAB_SSH_PORT}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
-  exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_TIMEZONE}}/'"${GITLAB_TIMEZONE}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_USERNAME_CHANGE}}/'"${GITLAB_USERNAME_CHANGE}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_CREATE_GROUP}}/'"${GITLAB_CREATE_GROUP}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
   exec_as_git sed -i 's/{{GITLAB_TIMEOUT}}/'"${GITLAB_TIMEOUT}"'/' ${GITLAB_INSTALL_DIR}/config/gitlab.yml
@@ -879,6 +884,7 @@ configure_gitlab() {
   gitlab_configure_secrets
   gitlab_configure_sidekiq
   gitlab_configure_unicorn
+  gitlab_configure_timezone
   gitlab_configure_ci
   gitlab_configure_project_features
   gitlab_configure_mail_delivery