diff --git a/lib/jekyll.rb b/lib/jekyll.rb
index f4bea173..662a471c 100644
--- a/lib/jekyll.rb
+++ b/lib/jekyll.rb
@@ -74,19 +74,17 @@ module Jekyll
 
     # Merge DEFAULTS < _config.yml < override
     config = config.deep_merge(override).stringify_keys
-    set_timezone(config)
+    set_timezone(config['timezone']) if config['timezone']
 
     config
   end
 
   # Static: Set the TZ environment variable to use the timezone specified
   #
-  # config - the Jekyll::Configuration generated by Jekyll.configuration
+  # timezone - the IANA Time Zone
   #
   # Returns nothing
-  def self.set_timezone(config)
-    if config['timezone']
-      ENV['TZ'] = config['timezone']
-    end
+  def self.set_timezone(timezone)
+    ENV['TZ'] = timezone
   end
 end