diff --git a/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp b/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp
index 5b867fac33..a846a82275 100644
--- a/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp
+++ b/src/common/syncjournaldb.cpp
@@ -1015,6 +1015,11 @@ Result<void, QString> SyncJournalDb::setFileRecord(const SyncJournalFileRecord &
     SyncJournalFileRecord record = _record;
     QMutexLocker locker(&_mutex);
 
+    Q_ASSERT(record._modtime > 0);
+    if (record._modtime <= 0) {
+        qCCritical(lcDb) << "invalid modification time";
+    }
+
     if (!_etagStorageFilter.isEmpty()) {
         // If we are a directory that should not be read from db next time, don't write the etag
         QByteArray prefix = record._path + "/";
diff --git a/test/testfolderman.cpp b/test/testfolderman.cpp
index 284b9d2aae..2469e0022f 100644
--- a/test/testfolderman.cpp
+++ b/test/testfolderman.cpp
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@ private slots:
         // the server, let's just manually set the encryption bool in the folder journal
         SyncJournalFileRecord rec;
         QVERIFY(folder->journalDb()->getFileRecord(QStringLiteral("encrypted"), &rec));
+        rec._modtime = QDateTime::currentSecsSinceEpoch();
         rec._e2eEncryptionStatus = SyncJournalFileRecord::EncryptionStatus::EncryptedMigratedV2_0;
         rec._path = QStringLiteral("encrypted").toUtf8();
         rec._type = CSyncEnums::ItemTypeDirectory;
diff --git a/test/testsyncjournaldb.cpp b/test/testsyncjournaldb.cpp
index 424b439af3..1e71e25ff7 100644
--- a/test/testsyncjournaldb.cpp
+++ b/test/testsyncjournaldb.cpp
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ private slots:
         auto initialEtag = QByteArray("etag");
         auto makeEntry = [&](const QByteArray &path, ItemType type) {
             SyncJournalFileRecord record;
+            record._modtime = QDateTime::currentSecsSinceEpoch();
             record._path = path;
             record._type = type;
             record._etag = initialEtag;
@@ -329,6 +330,7 @@ private slots:
             SyncJournalFileRecord record;
             record._path = path;
             record._remotePerm = RemotePermissions::fromDbValue("RW");
+            record._modtime = QDateTime::currentSecsSinceEpoch();
             QVERIFY(_db.setFileRecord(record));
         };