diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index a2fbfeb..c379ed9 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ from app.radio_sync import (
     stop_message_polling,
     stop_periodic_sync,
     sync_and_offload_all,
+    sync_radio_time,
 )
 from app.routers import channels, contacts, health, messages, packets, radio, read_state, settings, ws
 
@@ -37,6 +38,9 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
         if radio_manager.meshcore:
             register_event_handlers(radio_manager.meshcore)
 
+            # Sync radio clock with system time
+            await sync_radio_time()
+
             # Sync contacts/channels from radio to DB and clear radio
             logger.info("Syncing and offloading radio data...")
             result = await sync_and_offload_all()
diff --git a/app/radio_sync.py b/app/radio_sync.py
index 6903fbb..d41ad70 100644
--- a/app/radio_sync.py
+++ b/app/radio_sync.py
@@ -332,6 +332,26 @@ async def stop_message_polling():
         logger.info("Stopped periodic message polling")
 
 
+async def sync_radio_time() -> bool:
+    """Sync the radio's clock with the system time.
+
+    Returns True if successful, False otherwise.
+    """
+    mc = radio_manager.meshcore
+    if not mc:
+        logger.debug("Cannot sync time: radio not connected")
+        return False
+
+    try:
+        now = int(time.time())
+        await mc.commands.set_time(now)
+        logger.debug("Synced radio time to %d", now)
+        return True
+    except Exception as e:
+        logger.warning("Failed to sync radio time: %s", e)
+        return False
+
+
 async def _periodic_sync_loop():
     """Background task that periodically syncs and offloads."""
     while True:
@@ -339,6 +359,7 @@ async def _periodic_sync_loop():
             await asyncio.sleep(SYNC_INTERVAL)
             logger.debug("Running periodic radio sync")
             await sync_and_offload_all()
+            await sync_radio_time()
         except asyncio.CancelledError:
             logger.info("Periodic sync task cancelled")
             break
diff --git a/app/routers/radio.py b/app/routers/radio.py
index 3306f38..20655ea 100644
--- a/app/routers/radio.py
+++ b/app/routers/radio.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import logging
-import time
 
 from fastapi import APIRouter, HTTPException
 from meshcore import EventType
 from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 from app.dependencies import require_connected
+from app.radio_sync import sync_radio_time
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 router = APIRouter(prefix="/radio", tags=["radio"])
@@ -101,9 +101,7 @@ async def update_radio_config(update: RadioConfigUpdate) -> RadioConfigResponse:
         )
 
     # Sync time with system clock
-    now = int(time.time())
-    logger.debug("Syncing radio time to %d", now)
-    await mc.commands.set_time(now)
+    await sync_radio_time()
 
     return await get_radio_config()
 
diff --git a/tests/test_radio_sync.py b/tests/test_radio_sync.py
index 9a6cc2e..ab70730 100644
--- a/tests/test_radio_sync.py
+++ b/tests/test_radio_sync.py
@@ -5,11 +5,13 @@ message polling from interfering with repeater CLI operations.
 """
 
 import pytest
+from unittest.mock import AsyncMock, MagicMock, patch
 
 from app.radio_sync import (
     _polling_pause_count,
     is_polling_paused,
     pause_polling,
+    sync_radio_time,
 )
 
 
@@ -113,3 +115,44 @@ class TestPollingPause:
             assert radio_sync._polling_pause_count == 1
 
         assert radio_sync._polling_pause_count == 0
+
+
+class TestSyncRadioTime:
+    """Test the radio time sync function."""
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_returns_false_when_not_connected(self):
+        """sync_radio_time returns False when radio is not connected."""
+        with patch("app.radio_sync.radio_manager") as mock_manager:
+            mock_manager.meshcore = None
+            result = await sync_radio_time()
+            assert result is False
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_returns_true_on_success(self):
+        """sync_radio_time returns True when time is set successfully."""
+        mock_mc = MagicMock()
+        mock_mc.commands.set_time = AsyncMock()
+
+        with patch("app.radio_sync.radio_manager") as mock_manager:
+            mock_manager.meshcore = mock_mc
+            result = await sync_radio_time()
+
+            assert result is True
+            mock_mc.commands.set_time.assert_called_once()
+            # Verify timestamp is reasonable (within last few seconds)
+            call_args = mock_mc.commands.set_time.call_args[0][0]
+            import time
+            assert abs(call_args - int(time.time())) < 5
+
+    @pytest.mark.asyncio
+    async def test_returns_false_on_exception(self):
+        """sync_radio_time returns False and doesn't raise on error."""
+        mock_mc = MagicMock()
+        mock_mc.commands.set_time = AsyncMock(side_effect=Exception("Radio error"))
+
+        with patch("app.radio_sync.radio_manager") as mock_manager:
+            mock_manager.meshcore = mock_mc
+            result = await sync_radio_time()
+
+            assert result is False