diff --git a/service b/service
index c8a9339..61f7e4b 100755
--- a/service
+++ b/service
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ def idle(seconds, event_start, event_tz):
     end = time.time() + seconds
     log("sleeping for {} seconds".format(seconds))
     while time.time() < end:
-        send_data = {"day": "??", "time": time.time()}
+        send_data = {"day": "??", "time": int(time.time())}
         if event_start is not None:
             event_now = datetime.now(event_tz)
             utc_now = datetime.now(pytz.utc)
diff --git a/tile.lua b/tile.lua
index 3ba928b..cae0024 100644
--- a/tile.lua
+++ b/tile.lua
@@ -31,6 +31,11 @@ end
 
 function M.data_trigger(path, data)
     log("received data '" .. data .. "' on " .. path)
+    if path == "day" then
+        day = tonumber(data)
+    elseif path == "time" then
+        time = tonumber(data)
+    end
 end
 
 function M.updated_config_json(config)
@@ -83,8 +88,11 @@ local function wrap(str, font, size, max_w)
 end
 
 local function check_next_talks()
-    time = api.clock.unix()
     log("time is now " .. time)
+    if time == 0 then
+        log("No time info yet, cannot check for next talks")
+        return
+    end
 
     room_next_talks = {}
     all_next_talks = {}