diff --git a/bin/dig/dighost.c b/bin/dig/dighost.c
index e36023e298..cb846d32a9 100644
--- a/bin/dig/dighost.c
+++ b/bin/dig/dighost.c
@@ -422,7 +422,7 @@ debug(const char *format, ...) {
 	if (debugging) {
 		fflush(stdout);
 		if (debugtiming) {
-			TIME_NOW(&t);
+			t = isc_time_now();
 			fprintf(stderr, "%u.%06u: ", isc_time_seconds(&t),
 				isc_time_nanoseconds(&t) / 1000);
 		}
@@ -3104,9 +3104,9 @@ send_udp(dig_query_t *query) {
 	isc_buffer_usedregion(&query->sendbuf, &r);
 	debug("sending a request");
 	if (query->lookup->use_usec) {
-		TIME_NOW_HIRES(&query->time_sent);
+		query->time_sent = isc_time_now_hires();
 	} else {
-		TIME_NOW(&query->time_sent);
+		query->time_sent = isc_time_now();
 	}
 
 	isc_nmhandle_attach(query->handle, &query->sendhandle);
@@ -3471,9 +3471,9 @@ launch_next_query(dig_query_t *query) {
 		dig_query_t *sendquery = NULL;
 		debug("sending a request in launch_next_query");
 		if (query->lookup->use_usec) {
-			TIME_NOW_HIRES(&query->time_sent);
+			query->time_sent = isc_time_now_hires();
 		} else {
-			TIME_NOW(&query->time_sent);
+			query->time_sent = isc_time_now();
 		}
 
 		query_attach(query, &sendquery);
@@ -3926,9 +3926,9 @@ recv_done(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, isc_result_t eresult, isc_region_t *region,
 	}
 
 	if (query->lookup->use_usec) {
-		TIME_NOW_HIRES(&query->time_recv);
+		query->time_recv = isc_time_now_hires();
 	} else {
-		TIME_NOW(&query->time_recv);
+		query->time_recv = isc_time_now();
 	}
 
 	if ((!l->pending && !l->ns_search_only) || cancel_now) {
diff --git a/bin/dig/host.c b/bin/dig/host.c
index 35ef45e819..7ed3e5d5a3 100644
--- a/bin/dig/host.c
+++ b/bin/dig/host.c
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ received(unsigned int bytes, isc_sockaddr_t *from, dig_query_t *query) {
 		char fromtext[ISC_SOCKADDR_FORMATSIZE];
 		isc_sockaddr_format(from, fromtext, sizeof(fromtext));
 		if (query->lookup->use_usec) {
-			TIME_NOW_HIRES(&now);
+			now = isc_time_now_hires();
 		} else {
-			TIME_NOW(&now);
+			now = isc_time_now();
 		}
 		diff = (int)isc_time_microdiff(&now, &query->time_sent);
 		printf("Received %u bytes from %s in %d ms\n", bytes, fromtext,
diff --git a/bin/dnssec/dnssec-signzone.c b/bin/dnssec/dnssec-signzone.c
index d0f9add4b7..0a759cf9ef 100644
--- a/bin/dnssec/dnssec-signzone.c
+++ b/bin/dnssec/dnssec-signzone.c
@@ -3824,7 +3824,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	check_result(result, "dns_master_stylecreate");
 
 	gdb = NULL;
-	TIME_NOW(&timer_start);
+	timer_start = isc_time_now();
 	loadzone(file, origin, rdclass, &gdb);
 	if (journal != NULL) {
 		loadjournal(mctx, gdb, journal);
@@ -4014,7 +4014,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	}
 
 	presign();
-	TIME_NOW(&sign_start);
+	sign_start = isc_time_now();
 	signapex();
 	if (!atomic_load(&finished)) {
 		/*
@@ -4030,7 +4030,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		}
 	}
 	postsign();
-	TIME_NOW(&sign_finish);
+	sign_finish = isc_time_now();
 
 	if (disable_zone_check) {
 		vresult = ISC_R_SUCCESS;
@@ -4107,7 +4107,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	isc_managers_destroy(&mctx, &loopmgr, &netmgr);
 
 	if (printstats) {
-		TIME_NOW(&timer_finish);
+		timer_finish = isc_time_now();
 		print_stats(&timer_start, &timer_finish, &sign_start,
 			    &sign_finish);
 		isc_mutex_destroy(&statslock);
diff --git a/bin/named/main.c b/bin/named/main.c
index 9ae8832a40..22e3a8ebe9 100644
--- a/bin/named/main.c
+++ b/bin/named/main.c
@@ -1214,11 +1214,7 @@ setup(void) {
 	/*
 	 * Record the server's startup time.
 	 */
-	result = isc_time_now(&named_g_boottime);
-	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		named_main_earlyfatal("isc_time_now() failed: %s",
-				      isc_result_totext(result));
-	}
+	named_g_boottime = isc_time_now();
 
 	result = create_managers();
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
diff --git a/bin/named/server.c b/bin/named/server.c
index a041e53e26..3054429160 100644
--- a/bin/named/server.c
+++ b/bin/named/server.c
@@ -8275,7 +8275,7 @@ load_configuration(const char *filename, named_server_t *server,
 	isc_logconfig_t *logc = NULL;
 	isc_portset_t *v4portset = NULL;
 	isc_portset_t *v6portset = NULL;
-	isc_result_t result, tresult;
+	isc_result_t result;
 	uint32_t heartbeat_interval;
 	uint32_t interface_interval;
 	uint32_t udpsize;
@@ -9665,11 +9665,7 @@ load_configuration(const char *filename, named_server_t *server,
 	/*
 	 * Record the time of most recent configuration
 	 */
-	tresult = isc_time_now(&named_g_configtime);
-	if (tresult != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		named_main_earlyfatal("isc_time_now() failed: %s",
-				      isc_result_totext(result));
-	}
+	named_g_configtime = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_loopmgr_resume(named_g_loopmgr);
 	exclusive = false;
@@ -11640,7 +11636,7 @@ named_server_dumpsecroots(named_server_t *server, isc_lex_t *lex,
 		}
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	isc_time_formattimestamp(&now, tbuf, sizeof(tbuf));
 	CHECK(putstr(text, "secure roots as of "));
 	CHECK(putstr(text, tbuf));
@@ -13894,7 +13890,7 @@ named_server_changezone(named_server_t *server, char *command,
 		      addzone ? NAMED_COMMAND_ADDZONE : NAMED_COMMAND_MODZONE);
 
 	/* Changing a zone counts as reconfiguration */
-	CHECK(isc_time_now(&named_g_configtime));
+	named_g_configtime = isc_time_now();
 
 cleanup:
 	if (isc_buffer_usedlength(*text) > 0) {
@@ -14206,7 +14202,7 @@ named_server_delzone(named_server_t *server, isc_lex_t *lex,
 		      "zone %s scheduled for removal via delzone", zonename);
 
 	/* Removing a zone counts as reconfiguration */
-	CHECK(isc_time_now(&named_g_configtime));
+	named_g_configtime = isc_time_now();
 
 	result = ISC_R_SUCCESS;
 
@@ -14709,7 +14705,7 @@ named_server_dnssec(named_server_t *server, isc_lex_t *lex,
 	}
 
 	/* Initialize current time and key list. */
-	TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+	timenow = isc_time_now();
 	now = isc_time_seconds(&timenow);
 	when = now;
 
diff --git a/bin/named/statschannel.c b/bin/named/statschannel.c
index 7b8eaa4d25..45b00d5710 100644
--- a/bin/named/statschannel.c
+++ b/bin/named/statschannel.c
@@ -1969,7 +1969,7 @@ generatexml(named_server_t *server, uint32_t flags, int *buflen,
 	char boottime[sizeof "yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.sssZ"];
 	char configtime[sizeof "yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.sssZ"];
 	char nowstr[sizeof "yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.sssZ"];
-	isc_time_t now;
+	isc_time_t now = isc_time_now();
 	xmlTextWriterPtr writer = NULL;
 	xmlDocPtr doc = NULL;
 	int xmlrc;
@@ -1990,7 +1990,6 @@ generatexml(named_server_t *server, uint32_t flags, int *buflen,
 #endif /* ifdef HAVE_DNSTAP */
 	isc_result_t result;
 
-	isc_time_now(&now);
 	isc_time_formatISO8601ms(&named_g_boottime, boottime, sizeof boottime);
 	isc_time_formatISO8601ms(&named_g_configtime, configtime,
 				 sizeof configtime);
@@ -2779,7 +2778,7 @@ generatejson(named_server_t *server, size_t *msglen, const char **msg,
 	CHECKMEM(obj);
 	json_object_object_add(bindstats, "json-stats-version", obj);
 
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	isc_time_formatISO8601ms(&named_g_boottime, boottime, sizeof(boottime));
 	isc_time_formatISO8601ms(&named_g_configtime, configtime,
 				 sizeof configtime);
diff --git a/bin/named/zoneconf.c b/bin/named/zoneconf.c
index 85b687c0e4..f7184f4c86 100644
--- a/bin/named/zoneconf.c
+++ b/bin/named/zoneconf.c
@@ -1954,11 +1954,8 @@ isc_result_t
 named_zone_configure_writeable_dlz(dns_dlzdb_t *dlzdatabase, dns_zone_t *zone,
 				   dns_rdataclass_t rdclass, dns_name_t *name) {
 	dns_db_t *db = NULL;
-	isc_time_t now;
 	isc_result_t result;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
-
 	dns_zone_settype(zone, dns_zone_dlz);
 	result = dns_sdlz_setdb(dlzdatabase, rdclass, name, &db);
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
diff --git a/bin/tools/mdig.c b/bin/tools/mdig.c
index 21b71fcb58..6107173129 100644
--- a/bin/tools/mdig.c
+++ b/bin/tools/mdig.c
@@ -2150,13 +2150,13 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 	 */
 	if (burst) {
 		isc_time_t start, now;
-		RUNCHECK(isc_time_now(&start));
+		start = isc_time_now();
 		/*
 		 * Sleep to 1ms of the end of the second then run a busy loop
 		 * until the second changes.
 		 */
 		do {
-			RUNCHECK(isc_time_now(&now));
+			now = isc_time_now();
 			if (isc_time_seconds(&start) == isc_time_seconds(&now))
 			{
 				int us = US_PER_SEC -
diff --git a/cocci/isc_time_now.spatch b/cocci/isc_time_now.spatch
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c3c3aa495a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cocci/isc_time_now.spatch
@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+@@
+statement S;
+expression V, E;
+@@
+
+- V = isc_time_now(&E);
+- if (V != ISC_R_SUCCESS) S
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+expression V, E;
+@@
+
+- V = isc_time_now(&E);
+- RUNTIME_CHECK(V == ISC_R_SUCCESS);
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+expression V, E;
+@@
+
+- V = isc_time_now(&E);
+- assert_int_equal(V, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+
+- assert_int_equal(isc_time_now(&E), ISC_R_SUCCESS);
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+
+- TIME_NOW(&E);
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+
+- CHECK(isc_time_now(&E));
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+statement S;
+expression V, E;
+@@
+
+- V = isc_time_now_hires(&E);
+- if (V != ISC_R_SUCCESS) S
++ E = isc_time_now_hires();
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+
+- isc_time_now(&E);
++ E = isc_time_now();
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+
+- isc_time_now_hires(&E);
++ E = isc_time_now_hires();
+
+@@
+expression E;
+@@
+
+- TIME_NOW_HIRES(&E);
++ E = isc_time_now_hires();
diff --git a/lib/dns/badcache.c b/lib/dns/badcache.c
index 873e328360..4fdf4c5664 100644
--- a/lib/dns/badcache.c
+++ b/lib/dns/badcache.c
@@ -212,7 +212,6 @@ void
 dns_badcache_add(dns_badcache_t *bc, const dns_name_t *name,
 		 dns_rdatatype_t type, bool update, uint32_t flags,
 		 isc_time_t *expire) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	unsigned int hashval, hash;
 	dns_bcentry_t *bad, *prev, *next;
 	isc_time_t now;
@@ -224,10 +223,7 @@ dns_badcache_add(dns_badcache_t *bc, const dns_name_t *name,
 
 	RWLOCK(&bc->lock, isc_rwlocktype_read);
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&now);
-	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		isc_time_settoepoch(&now);
-	}
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	hashval = dns_name_hash(name);
 	hash = hashval % bc->size;
@@ -389,7 +385,6 @@ dns_badcache_flush(dns_badcache_t *bc) {
 void
 dns_badcache_flushname(dns_badcache_t *bc, const dns_name_t *name) {
 	dns_bcentry_t *bad, *prev, *next;
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t now;
 	unsigned int hash;
 
@@ -398,10 +393,7 @@ dns_badcache_flushname(dns_badcache_t *bc, const dns_name_t *name) {
 
 	RWLOCK(&bc->lock, isc_rwlocktype_read);
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&now);
-	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		isc_time_settoepoch(&now);
-	}
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	hash = dns_name_hash(name) % bc->size;
 	LOCK(&bc->tlocks[hash]);
 	prev = NULL;
@@ -433,7 +425,6 @@ dns_badcache_flushtree(dns_badcache_t *bc, const dns_name_t *name) {
 	unsigned int i;
 	int n;
 	isc_time_t now;
-	isc_result_t result;
 
 	REQUIRE(VALID_BADCACHE(bc));
 	REQUIRE(name != NULL);
@@ -444,10 +435,7 @@ dns_badcache_flushtree(dns_badcache_t *bc, const dns_name_t *name) {
 	 */
 	RWLOCK(&bc->lock, isc_rwlocktype_write);
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&now);
-	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-		isc_time_settoepoch(&now);
-	}
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	for (i = 0; atomic_load_relaxed(&bc->count) > 0 && i < bc->size; i++) {
 		prev = NULL;
@@ -492,7 +480,7 @@ dns_badcache_print(dns_badcache_t *bc, const char *cachename, FILE *fp) {
 	RWLOCK(&bc->lock, isc_rwlocktype_write);
 	fprintf(fp, ";\n; %s\n;\n", cachename);
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	for (i = 0; atomic_load_relaxed(&bc->count) > 0 && i < bc->size; i++) {
 		prev = NULL;
 		for (bad = bc->table[i]; bad != NULL; bad = next) {
diff --git a/lib/dns/catz.c b/lib/dns/catz.c
index 4dc8caaa3e..fe176c2824 100644
--- a/lib/dns/catz.c
+++ b/lib/dns/catz.c
@@ -843,7 +843,7 @@ dns__catz_timer_start(dns_catz_zone_t *catz) {
 
 	REQUIRE(DNS_CATZ_ZONE_VALID(catz));
 
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	tdiff = isc_time_microdiff(&now, &catz->lastupdated) / 1000000;
 	if (tdiff < catz->defoptions.min_update_interval) {
 		uint64_t defer = catz->defoptions.min_update_interval - tdiff;
@@ -2084,7 +2084,6 @@ cleanup:
 static void
 dns__catz_timer_cb(void *arg) {
 	char domain[DNS_NAME_FORMATSIZE];
-	isc_result_t result;
 	dns_catz_zone_t *catz = (dns_catz_zone_t *)arg;
 
 	REQUIRE(DNS_CATZ_ZONE_VALID(catz));
@@ -2132,8 +2131,7 @@ exit:
 	isc_timer_destroy(&catz->updatetimer);
 	catz->loop = NULL;
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&catz->lastupdated);
-	RUNTIME_CHECK(result == ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	catz->lastupdated = isc_time_now();
 
 	UNLOCK(&catz->catzs->lock);
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/dispatch.c b/lib/dns/dispatch.c
index 65a3ba77a8..9e98e10afa 100644
--- a/lib/dns/dispatch.c
+++ b/lib/dns/dispatch.c
@@ -501,7 +501,7 @@ dispentry_runtime(dns_dispentry_t *resp) {
 		return (0);
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	return (isc_time_microdiff(&now, &resp->start) / 1000);
 }
 
@@ -1804,7 +1804,7 @@ static void
 udp_startrecv(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, dns_dispentry_t *resp) {
 	REQUIRE(VALID_RESPONSE(resp));
 
-	TIME_NOW(&resp->start);
+	resp->start = isc_time_now();
 	dispentry_log(resp, LVL(90), "attaching handle %p to %p", handle,
 		      &resp->handle);
 	isc_nmhandle_attach(handle, &resp->handle);
diff --git a/lib/dns/dnstap.c b/lib/dns/dnstap.c
index 6e8f831925..bb616ea08b 100644
--- a/lib/dns/dnstap.c
+++ b/lib/dns/dnstap.c
@@ -753,7 +753,7 @@ dns_dt_send(dns_view_t *view, dns_dtmsgtype_t msgtype, isc_sockaddr_t *qaddr,
 		check_file_size_and_maybe_reopen(view->dtenv);
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	t = &now;
 
 	init_msg(view->dtenv, &dm, dnstap_type(msgtype));
diff --git a/lib/dns/rbtdb.c b/lib/dns/rbtdb.c
index cec5536fec..45a0637f61 100644
--- a/lib/dns/rbtdb.c
+++ b/lib/dns/rbtdb.c
@@ -985,7 +985,7 @@ adjust_quantum(unsigned int old, isc_time_t *start) {
 	if (pps < 100) {
 		pps = 100;
 	}
-	isc_time_now(&end);
+	end = isc_time_now();
 
 	interval = 1000000 / pps; /* interval in usec */
 	if (interval == 0) {
@@ -1082,7 +1082,7 @@ free_rbtdb(dns_rbtdb_t *rbtdb, bool log) {
 			}
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now();
 		result = dns_rbt_destroy2(treep, rbtdb->quantum);
 		if (result == ISC_R_QUOTA) {
 			INSIST(rbtdb->loop != NULL);
diff --git a/lib/dns/resolver.c b/lib/dns/resolver.c
index ce08b76c12..6f6cfbb602 100644
--- a/lib/dns/resolver.c
+++ b/lib/dns/resolver.c
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ fctx_starttimer(fetchctx_t *fctx) {
 	isc_interval_set(&interval, 2, 0);
 	isc_time_add(&fctx->expires, &interval, &expires);
 
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	if (isc_time_compare(&expires, &now) <= 0) {
 		isc_interval_set(&interval, 0, 1);
 	} else {
@@ -1547,7 +1547,7 @@ fctx_sendevents(fetchctx_t *fctx, isc_result_t result) {
 	 * Keep some record of fetch result for logging later (if required).
 	 */
 	fctx->result = result;
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	fctx->duration = isc_time_microdiff(&now, &fctx->start);
 
 	for (resp = ISC_LIST_HEAD(fctx->resps); resp != NULL; resp = next) {
@@ -1802,7 +1802,7 @@ fctx_setretryinterval(fetchctx_t *fctx, unsigned int rtt) {
 	/*
 	 * Has this fetch already expired?
 	 */
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	limit = isc_time_microdiff(&fctx->expires, &now);
 	if (limit < US_PER_MS) {
 		FCTXTRACE("fetch already expired");
@@ -1888,7 +1888,7 @@ resquery_timeout(resquery_t *query) {
 	 * (Note that netmgr timeouts have millisecond accuracy, so
 	 * anything less than 1000 microseconds is close enough to zero.)
 	 */
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	timeleft = isc_time_microdiff(&fctx->expires_try_stale, &now);
 	if (timeleft >= US_PER_MS) {
 		return (ISC_R_SUCCESS);
@@ -1999,7 +1999,7 @@ fctx_query(fetchctx_t *fctx, dns_adbaddrinfo_t *addrinfo,
 
 	dns_message_create(fctx->mctx, DNS_MESSAGE_INTENTPARSE,
 			   &query->rmessage);
-	TIME_NOW(&query->start);
+	query->start = isc_time_now();
 
 	/*
 	 * If this is a TCP query, then we need to make a socket and
@@ -4533,7 +4533,7 @@ fctx_create(dns_resolver_t *res, const dns_name_t *name, dns_rdatatype_t type,
 	dns_rdataset_init(&fctx->qminrrset);
 	dns_rdataset_init(&fctx->nsrrset);
 
-	TIME_NOW(&fctx->start);
+	fctx->start = isc_time_now();
 	fctx->now = (isc_stdtime_t)fctx->start.seconds;
 
 	if (client != NULL) {
@@ -7711,7 +7711,7 @@ rctx_respinit(resquery_t *query, fetchctx_t *fctx, isc_result_t result,
 	} else {
 		isc_buffer_initnull(&rctx->buffer);
 	}
-	TIME_NOW(&rctx->tnow);
+	rctx->tnow = isc_time_now();
 	rctx->finish = &rctx->tnow;
 	rctx->now = (isc_stdtime_t)isc_time_seconds(&rctx->tnow);
 }
@@ -7832,7 +7832,7 @@ rctx_timedout(respctx_t *rctx) {
 		fctx->timeout = true;
 		fctx->timeouts++;
 
-		isc_time_now(&now);
+		now = isc_time_now();
 		/* netmgr timeouts are accurate to the millisecond */
 		if (isc_time_microdiff(&fctx->expires, &now) < US_PER_MS) {
 			FCTXTRACE("query timed out; stopped trying to make "
diff --git a/lib/dns/rpz.c b/lib/dns/rpz.c
index 92ab5980d3..fd89f1aa9d 100644
--- a/lib/dns/rpz.c
+++ b/lib/dns/rpz.c
@@ -1632,7 +1632,7 @@ dns__rpz_timer_start(dns_rpz_zone_t *rpz) {
 
 	REQUIRE(DNS_RPZ_ZONE_VALID(rpz));
 
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	tdiff = isc_time_microdiff(&now, &rpz->lastupdated) / 1000000;
 	if (tdiff < rpz->min_update_interval) {
 		uint64_t defer = rpz->min_update_interval - tdiff;
@@ -1934,7 +1934,6 @@ shuttingdown:
 static void
 dns__rpz_timer_cb(void *arg) {
 	char domain[DNS_NAME_FORMATSIZE];
-	isc_result_t result;
 	dns_rpz_zone_t *rpz = (dns_rpz_zone_t *)arg;
 
 	REQUIRE(DNS_RPZ_ZONE_VALID(rpz));
@@ -1967,8 +1966,7 @@ dns__rpz_timer_cb(void *arg) {
 	isc_timer_destroy(&rpz->updatetimer);
 	rpz->loop = NULL;
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&rpz->lastupdated);
-	RUNTIME_CHECK(result == ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	rpz->lastupdated = isc_time_now();
 unlock:
 	UNLOCK(&rpz->rpzs->maint_lock);
 }
diff --git a/lib/dns/validator.c b/lib/dns/validator.c
index 4b180d1e97..dcc98bd8f6 100644
--- a/lib/dns/validator.c
+++ b/lib/dns/validator.c
@@ -851,15 +851,13 @@ view_find(dns_validator_t *val, dns_name_t *name, dns_rdatatype_t type) {
 	dns_name_t *foundname;
 	isc_result_t result;
 	unsigned int options;
-	isc_time_t now;
+	isc_time_t now = isc_time_now();
 	char namebuf[DNS_NAME_FORMATSIZE];
 	char typebuf[DNS_RDATATYPE_FORMATSIZE];
 
 	disassociate_rdatasets(val);
 
-	if (isc_time_now(&now) == ISC_R_SUCCESS &&
-	    dns_resolver_getbadcache(val->view->resolver, name, type, &now))
-	{
+	if (dns_resolver_getbadcache(val->view->resolver, name, type, &now)) {
 		dns_name_format(name, namebuf, sizeof(namebuf));
 		dns_rdatatype_format(type, typebuf, sizeof(typebuf));
 		validator_log(val, ISC_LOG_INFO, "bad cache hit (%s/%s)",
diff --git a/lib/dns/xfrin.c b/lib/dns/xfrin.c
index 290754f699..a13967e7a0 100644
--- a/lib/dns/xfrin.c
+++ b/lib/dns/xfrin.c
@@ -859,7 +859,7 @@ xfrin_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, dns_zone_t *zone, dns_db_t *db,
 		xfr->state = XFRST_INITIALSOA;
 	}
 
-	isc_time_now(&xfr->start);
+	xfr->start = isc_time_now();
 
 	if (tsigkey != NULL) {
 		dns_tsigkey_attach(tsigkey, &xfr->tsigkey);
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ xfrin_connect_done(isc_result_t result, isc_region_t *region, void *arg) {
 	zmgr = dns_zone_getmgr(xfr->zone);
 	if (zmgr != NULL) {
 		if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
-			TIME_NOW(&now);
+			now = isc_time_now();
 			dns_zonemgr_unreachableadd(zmgr, &xfr->primaryaddr,
 						   &xfr->sourceaddr, &now);
 			CHECK(result);
@@ -1119,7 +1119,7 @@ xfrin_send_request(dns_xfrin_t *xfr) {
 	xfr->nmsg = 0;
 	xfr->nrecs = 0;
 	xfr->nbytes = 0;
-	isc_time_now(&xfr->start);
+	xfr->start = isc_time_now();
 	msg->id = xfr->id;
 	if (xfr->tsigctx != NULL) {
 		dst_context_destroy(&xfr->tsigctx);
@@ -1494,7 +1494,7 @@ xfrin_destroy(dns_xfrin_t *xfr) {
 	 * Calculate the length of time the transfer took,
 	 * and print a log message with the bytes and rate.
 	 */
-	isc_time_now(&xfr->end);
+	xfr->end = isc_time_now();
 	msecs = isc_time_microdiff(&xfr->end, &xfr->start) / 1000;
 	if (msecs == 0) {
 		msecs = 1;
diff --git a/lib/dns/zone.c b/lib/dns/zone.c
index 36446abd15..5a8ce4f129 100644
--- a/lib/dns/zone.c
+++ b/lib/dns/zone.c
@@ -1054,7 +1054,7 @@ dns_zone_create(dns_zone_t **zonep, isc_mem_t *mctx, unsigned int tid) {
 	REQUIRE(zonep != NULL && *zonep == NULL);
 	REQUIRE(mctx != NULL);
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	zone = isc_mem_get(mctx, sizeof(*zone));
 	*zone = (dns_zone_t){
 		.masterformat = dns_masterformat_none,
@@ -2061,7 +2061,7 @@ zone_load(dns_zone_t *zone, unsigned int flags, bool locked) {
 		LOCK_ZONE(zone->raw);
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	INSIST(zone->type != dns_zone_none);
 
@@ -2106,7 +2106,7 @@ zone_load(dns_zone_t *zone, unsigned int flags, bool locked) {
 	 * zone->loadtime is set, then the file will still be reloaded
 	 * the next time dns_zone_load is called.
 	 */
-	TIME_NOW(&loadtime);
+	loadtime = isc_time_now();
 
 	/*
 	 * Don't do the load if the file that stores the zone is older
@@ -3648,7 +3648,7 @@ zone_addnsec3chain(dns_zone_t *zone, dns_rdata_nsec3param_t *nsec3param) {
 		ISC_LIST_INITANDAPPEND(zone->nsec3chain, nsec3chain, link);
 		nsec3chain = NULL;
 		if (isc_time_isepoch(&zone->nsec3chaintime)) {
-			TIME_NOW(&now);
+			now = isc_time_now();
 			zone->nsec3chaintime = now;
 			if (zone->loop != NULL) {
 				zone_settimer(zone, &now);
@@ -3968,7 +3968,7 @@ set_refreshkeytimer(dns_zone_t *zone, dns_rdata_keydata_t *key,
 		then = key->removehd;
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+	timenow = isc_time_now();
 	if (then > now) {
 		DNS_ZONE_TIME_ADD(&timenow, then - now, &timethen);
 	} else {
@@ -4720,7 +4720,7 @@ zone_postload(dns_zone_t *zone, dns_db_t *db, isc_time_t loadtime,
 		INSIST(LOCKED_ZONE(zone->secure));
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	/*
 	 * Initiate zone transfer?  We may need a error code that
@@ -10661,7 +10661,7 @@ retry_keyfetch(dns_keyfetch_t *kfetch, dns_name_t *kname) {
 		/* Don't really retry if we are exiting */
 		char timebuf[80];
 
-		TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+		timenow = isc_time_now();
 		DNS_ZONE_TIME_ADD(&timenow, dns_zone_mkey_hour, &timethen);
 		zone->refreshkeytime = timethen;
 		zone_settimer(zone, &timenow);
@@ -10907,7 +10907,7 @@ zone_maintenance(dns_zone_t *zone) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	/*
 	 * Expire check.
@@ -11154,7 +11154,7 @@ again:
 			set_resigntime(zone);
 			if (zone->loop != NULL) {
 				isc_time_t now;
-				TIME_NOW(&now);
+				now = isc_time_now();
 				zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 			}
 		}
@@ -11481,7 +11481,7 @@ zone_needdump(dns_zone_t *zone, unsigned int delay) {
 		return;
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	/* add some noise */
 	DNS_ZONE_JITTER_ADD(&now, delay, &dumptime);
 
@@ -12383,7 +12383,7 @@ dns_zone_notify(dns_zone_t *zone) {
 	LOCK_ZONE(zone);
 	DNS_ZONE_SETFLAG(zone, DNS_ZONEFLG_NEEDNOTIFY);
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 	UNLOCK_ZONE(zone);
 }
@@ -12790,7 +12790,7 @@ stub_glue_response(void *arg) {
 
 	ENTER;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	LOCK_ZONE(zone);
 
@@ -13206,7 +13206,7 @@ stub_callback(void *arg) {
 
 	ENTER;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	LOCK_ZONE(zone);
 
@@ -13540,7 +13540,7 @@ refresh_callback(void *arg) {
 
 	ENTER;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	LOCK_ZONE(zone);
 
@@ -14809,7 +14809,7 @@ cancel_refresh(dns_zone_t *zone) {
 	ENTER;
 
 	DNS_ZONE_CLRFLAG(zone, DNS_ZONEFLG_REFRESH);
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 }
 
@@ -16149,7 +16149,7 @@ receive_secure_serial(void *arg) {
 	 * signature expiration.
 	 */
 	set_resigntime(zone);
-	TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+	timenow = isc_time_now();
 	zone_settimer(zone, &timenow);
 	UNLOCK_ZONE(zone);
 
@@ -16171,7 +16171,7 @@ failure:
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 		LOCK_ZONE(zone);
 		set_resigntime(zone);
-		TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+		timenow = isc_time_now();
 		zone_settimer(zone, &timenow);
 		UNLOCK_ZONE(zone);
 		if (result == DNS_R_UNCHANGED) {
@@ -16577,7 +16577,7 @@ receive_secure_db(void *arg) {
 		goto failure;
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&loadtime);
+	loadtime = isc_time_now();
 	ZONEDB_LOCK(&zone->dblock, isc_rwlocktype_read);
 	if (zone->db != NULL) {
 		result = dns_db_getsoaserial(zone->db, NULL, &oldserial);
@@ -16977,7 +16977,7 @@ again:
 	DNS_ZONE_CLRFLAG(zone, DNS_ZONEFLG_REFRESH);
 	DNS_ZONE_CLRFLAG(zone, DNS_ZONEFLG_SOABEFOREAXFR);
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	switch (xfrresult) {
 	case ISC_R_SUCCESS:
 		DNS_ZONE_SETFLAG(zone, DNS_ZONEFLG_NEEDNOTIFY);
@@ -17351,7 +17351,7 @@ dns_zone_setsigresigninginterval(dns_zone_t *zone, uint32_t interval) {
 	zone->sigresigninginterval = interval;
 	set_resigntime(zone);
 	if (zone->loop != NULL) {
-		TIME_NOW(&now);
+		now = isc_time_now();
 		zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 	}
 	UNLOCK_ZONE(zone);
@@ -17414,7 +17414,7 @@ got_transfer_quota(void *arg) {
 		CHECK(ISC_R_CANCELED);
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	primaryaddr = dns_remote_curraddr(&zone->primaries);
 	isc_sockaddr_format(&primaryaddr, primary, sizeof(primary));
@@ -18179,7 +18179,7 @@ dns_zonemgr_forcemaint(dns_zonemgr_t *zmgr) {
 		isc_time_t now;
 
 		LOCK_ZONE(zone);
-		TIME_NOW(&now);
+		now = isc_time_now();
 		zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 		UNLOCK_ZONE(zone);
 	}
@@ -19152,7 +19152,7 @@ zone_signwithkey(dns_zone_t *zone, dns_secalg_t algorithm, uint16_t keyid,
 	signing->deleteit = deleteit;
 	signing->done = false;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	ZONEDB_LOCK(&zone->dblock, isc_rwlocktype_read);
 	if (zone->db != NULL) {
@@ -19806,7 +19806,7 @@ checkds_done(void *arg) {
 			     "checkds: empty DS response from %s", addrbuf);
 	}
 
-	TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+	timenow = isc_time_now();
 	now = isc_time_seconds(&timenow);
 
 	CHECK(dns_zone_getdb(zone, &db));
@@ -20355,7 +20355,7 @@ zone_rekey(dns_zone_t *zone) {
 	CHECK(dns_db_newversion(db, &ver));
 	CHECK(dns_db_getoriginnode(db, &node));
 
-	TIME_NOW(&timenow);
+	timenow = isc_time_now();
 	now = isc_time_seconds(&timenow);
 
 	kasp = dns_zone_getkasp(zone);
@@ -20972,7 +20972,7 @@ dns_zone_rekey(dns_zone_t *zone, bool fullsign) {
 			DNS_ZONEKEY_SETOPTION(zone, DNS_ZONEKEY_FULLSIGN);
 		}
 
-		TIME_NOW(&now);
+		now = isc_time_now();
 		zone->refreshkeytime = now;
 		zone_settimer(zone, &now);
 
@@ -21242,7 +21242,7 @@ dns_zone_dlzpostload(dns_zone_t *zone, dns_db_t *db) {
 	isc_result_t result;
 	dns_zone_t *secure = NULL;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&loadtime);
+	loadtime = isc_time_now();
 
 	/*
 	 * Lock hierarchy: zmgr, zone, raw.
diff --git a/lib/isc/httpd.c b/lib/isc/httpd.c
index 6ccb6091da..5e81de0b97 100644
--- a/lib/isc/httpd.c
+++ b/lib/isc/httpd.c
@@ -762,7 +762,7 @@ prepare_response(isc_httpdmgr_t *mgr, isc_httpd_t *httpd,
 	REQUIRE(VALID_HTTPD(httpd));
 	REQUIRE(reqp != NULL && *reqp == NULL);
 
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	isc_time_formathttptimestamp(&now, datebuf, sizeof(datebuf));
 
 	if (httpd->up.field_set & (1 << ISC_UF_PATH)) {
@@ -1080,7 +1080,7 @@ isc_httpdmgr_addurl(isc_httpdmgr_t *httpdmgr, const char *url, bool isstatic,
 	item->action = func;
 	item->action_arg = arg;
 	item->isstatic = isstatic;
-	isc_time_now(&item->loadtime);
+	item->loadtime = isc_time_now();
 
 	ISC_LINK_INIT(item, link);
 
diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/time.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/time.h
index ea9fb9d9c4..e9c2920bc9 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/time.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/time.h
@@ -166,8 +166,8 @@ isc_time_monotonic(void);
  * Returns the system's monotonic time in linear nanoseconds.
  */
 
-isc_result_t
-isc_time_now(isc_time_t *t);
+isc_time_t
+isc_time_now(void);
 /*%<
  * Set 't' to the current absolute time.
  *
@@ -185,8 +185,8 @@ isc_time_now(isc_time_t *t);
  *		in the current definition of isc_time_t.
  */
 
-isc_result_t
-isc_time_now_hires(isc_time_t *t);
+isc_time_t
+isc_time_now_hires(void);
 /*%<
  * Set 't' to the current absolute time. Uses higher resolution clocks
  * recommended when microsecond accuracy is required.
diff --git a/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h b/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h
index 503c624aaf..ba74a678e7 100644
--- a/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h
+++ b/lib/isc/include/isc/util.h
@@ -357,13 +357,6 @@ mock_assert(const int result, const char *const expression,
 		FATAL_SYSERROR(ret, "%s()", #func); \
 	}
 
-/*%
- * Time
- */
-#define TIME_NOW(tp) RUNTIME_CHECK(isc_time_now((tp)) == ISC_R_SUCCESS)
-#define TIME_NOW_HIRES(tp) \
-	RUNTIME_CHECK(isc_time_now_hires((tp)) == ISC_R_SUCCESS)
-
 /*%
  * Alignment
  */
diff --git a/lib/isc/log.c b/lib/isc/log.c
index 0b30d8e2a0..dacdafaf8f 100644
--- a/lib/isc/log.c
+++ b/lib/isc/log.c
@@ -1324,7 +1324,7 @@ roll_timestamp(isc_logfile_t *file) {
 	}
 
 	/* Then just rename the current logfile */
-	isc_time_now(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 	isc_time_formatshorttimestamp(&now, newts, PATH_MAX + 1);
 	n = snprintf(newpath, sizeof(newpath), "%s.%s", path, newts);
 	if (n >= (int)sizeof(newpath) || n < 0) {
@@ -1590,7 +1590,7 @@ isc_log_doit(isc_log_t *lctx, isc_logcategory_t *category,
 		{
 			isc_time_t isctime;
 
-			TIME_NOW(&isctime);
+			isctime = isc_time_now();
 
 			isc_time_formattimestamp(&isctime, local_time,
 						 sizeof(local_time));
@@ -1640,7 +1640,7 @@ isc_log_doit(isc_log_t *lctx, isc_logcategory_t *category,
 				 * messages which fall within the
 				 * duplicate_interval range.
 				 */
-				TIME_NOW(&oldest);
+				oldest = isc_time_now();
 				if (isc_time_subtract(&oldest, &interval,
 						      &oldest) != ISC_R_SUCCESS)
 				{
@@ -1718,7 +1718,7 @@ isc_log_doit(isc_log_t *lctx, isc_logcategory_t *category,
 				message->text = (char *)(message + 1);
 				size -= sizeof(isc_logmessage_t);
 				strlcpy(message->text, lctx->buffer, size);
-				TIME_NOW(&message->time);
+				message->time = isc_time_now();
 				ISC_LINK_INIT(message, link);
 				ISC_LIST_APPEND(lctx->messages, message, link);
 			}
diff --git a/lib/isc/time.c b/lib/isc/time.c
index 9f369d8b47..c073061fbc 100644
--- a/lib/isc/time.c
+++ b/lib/isc/time.c
@@ -79,44 +79,34 @@ isc_time_isepoch(const isc_time_t *t) {
 	return (false);
 }
 
-static isc_result_t
-time_now(isc_time_t *t, clockid_t clock) {
+static isc_time_t
+time_now(clockid_t clock) {
+	isc_time_t t;
 	struct timespec ts;
 
-	REQUIRE(t != NULL);
-
-	if (clock_gettime(clock, &ts) == -1) {
-		UNEXPECTED_SYSERROR(errno, "clock_gettime()");
-		return (ISC_R_UNEXPECTED);
-	}
-
-	if (ts.tv_sec < 0 || ts.tv_nsec < 0 || ts.tv_nsec >= NS_PER_SEC) {
-		return (ISC_R_UNEXPECTED);
-	}
+	RUNTIME_CHECK(clock_gettime(clock, &ts) == 0);
+	INSIST(ts.tv_sec >= 0 && ts.tv_nsec >= 0 && ts.tv_nsec < NS_PER_SEC);
 
 	/*
 	 * Ensure the tv_sec value fits in t->seconds.
 	 */
-	if (sizeof(ts.tv_sec) > sizeof(t->seconds) &&
-	    ((ts.tv_sec | (unsigned int)-1) ^ (unsigned int)-1) != 0U)
-	{
-		return (ISC_R_RANGE);
-	}
+	INSIST(sizeof(ts.tv_sec) <= sizeof(t.seconds) ||
+	       ((ts.tv_sec | (unsigned int)-1) ^ (unsigned int)-1) == 0U);
 
-	t->seconds = ts.tv_sec;
-	t->nanoseconds = ts.tv_nsec;
+	t.seconds = ts.tv_sec;
+	t.nanoseconds = ts.tv_nsec;
 
-	return (ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	return (t);
 }
 
-isc_result_t
-isc_time_now_hires(isc_time_t *t) {
-	return time_now(t, CLOCKSOURCE_HIRES);
+isc_time_t
+isc_time_now_hires(void) {
+	return (time_now(CLOCKSOURCE_HIRES));
 }
 
-isc_result_t
-isc_time_now(isc_time_t *t) {
-	return time_now(t, CLOCKSOURCE);
+isc_time_t
+isc_time_now(void) {
+	return (time_now(CLOCKSOURCE));
 }
 
 isc_nanosecs_t
diff --git a/lib/ns/client.c b/lib/ns/client.c
index 5414fa49d0..65fe8da324 100644
--- a/lib/ns/client.c
+++ b/lib/ns/client.c
@@ -1779,7 +1779,7 @@ ns_client_request(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, isc_result_t eresult,
 
 	client->state = NS_CLIENTSTATE_WORKING;
 
-	TIME_NOW(&client->requesttime);
+	client->requesttime = isc_time_now();
 	client->tnow = client->requesttime;
 	client->now = isc_time_seconds(&client->tnow);
 
diff --git a/lib/ns/xfrout.c b/lib/ns/xfrout.c
index 1fd605f5d3..23484caa5c 100644
--- a/lib/ns/xfrout.c
+++ b/lib/ns/xfrout.c
@@ -1248,7 +1248,7 @@ xfrout_ctx_create(isc_mem_t *mctx, ns_client_t *client, unsigned int id,
 	dns_db_attach(db, &xfr->db);
 	dns_db_attachversion(db, ver, &xfr->ver);
 
-	isc_time_now(&xfr->stats.start);
+	xfr->stats.start = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_nm_timer_create(xfr->client->handle, xfrout_client_timeout, xfr,
 			    &xfr->maxtime_timer);
@@ -1659,7 +1659,7 @@ xfrout_senddone(isc_nmhandle_t *handle, isc_result_t result, void *arg) {
 		uint64_t msecs, persec;
 
 		inc_stats(xfr->client, xfr->zone, ns_statscounter_xfrdone);
-		isc_time_now(&xfr->stats.end);
+		xfr->stats.end = isc_time_now();
 		msecs = isc_time_microdiff(&xfr->stats.end, &xfr->stats.start);
 		msecs /= 1000;
 		if (msecs == 0) {
diff --git a/tests/bench/ascii.c b/tests/bench/ascii.c
index 3cbe08d136..e2123cb294 100644
--- a/tests/bench/ascii.c
+++ b/tests/bench/ascii.c
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ copy_fn(void *a, void *b, unsigned int len);
 static void
 time_it(copy_fn *copier, void *a, void *b, const char *name) {
 	isc_time_t start;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+	start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	copier(a, b, SIZE);
 
 	isc_time_t finish;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+	finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	uint64_t microseconds = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 	printf("%f for %s\n", (double)microseconds / 1000000.0, name);
diff --git a/tests/bench/compress.c b/tests/bench/compress.c
index 087b02d91a..bbd57a57e7 100644
--- a/tests/bench/compress.c
+++ b/tests/bench/compress.c
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ main(void) {
 	unsigned int repeat = 100;
 
 	isc_time_t start;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+	start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	for (unsigned int n = 0; n < repeat; n++) {
 		static uint8_t wire[4 * 1024];
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ main(void) {
 	}
 
 	isc_time_t finish;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+	finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	uint64_t microseconds = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 	printf("time %f / %u\n", (double)microseconds / 1000000.0, repeat);
diff --git a/tests/bench/dns_name_fromwire.c b/tests/bench/dns_name_fromwire.c
index 54a1879a9a..f89c0cebd1 100644
--- a/tests/bench/dns_name_fromwire.c
+++ b/tests/bench/dns_name_fromwire.c
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ new_bench(const uint8_t *data, size_t size) {
 static void
 oldnew_bench(const uint8_t *data, size_t size) {
 	isc_time_t t0;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&t0);
+	t0 = isc_time_now_hires();
 	uint32_t n1 = old_bench(data, size);
 	isc_time_t t1;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&t1);
+	t1 = isc_time_now_hires();
 	uint32_t n2 = new_bench(data, size);
 	isc_time_t t2;
-	isc_time_now_hires(&t2);
+	t2 = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	double t01 = (double)isc_time_microdiff(&t1, &t0);
 	double t12 = (double)isc_time_microdiff(&t2, &t1);
diff --git a/tests/bench/iterated_hash.c b/tests/bench/iterated_hash.c
index a8da177433..7d11c93a4c 100644
--- a/tests/bench/iterated_hash.c
+++ b/tests/bench/iterated_hash.c
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ time_it(const int count, const int iterations, const unsigned char *salt,
 	       saltlen, inlen);
 	fflush(stdout);
 
-	isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+	start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	int i = 0;
 	while (i++ < count) {
 		isc_iterated_hash(out, 1, iterations, salt, saltlen, in, inlen);
 	}
 
-	isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+	finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	uint64_t microseconds = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 	printf("%0.2f us per iterated_hash()\n", (double)microseconds / count);
diff --git a/tests/bench/load-names.c b/tests/bench/load-names.c
index 99c5325dd4..f621e4fb8b 100644
--- a/tests/bench/load-names.c
+++ b/tests/bench/load-names.c
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 
 	for (struct fun *fun = fun_list; fun->name != NULL; fun++) {
 		isc_time_t t0;
-		isc_time_now_hires(&t0);
+		t0 = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		isc_mem_t *mem = NULL;
 		isc_mem_create(&mem);
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		fun->sqz(map);
 
 		isc_time_t t1;
-		isc_time_now_hires(&t1);
+		t1 = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (count = 0; count < lines; count++) {
 			void *pval = NULL;
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ main(int argc, char *argv[]) {
 		}
 
 		isc_time_t t2;
-		isc_time_now_hires(&t2);
+		t2 = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		printf("%f sec to load %s\n",
 		       (double)isc_time_microdiff(&t1, &t0) / (1000.0 * 1000.0),
diff --git a/tests/bench/siphash.c b/tests/bench/siphash.c
index 1e9a7f41d9..292cd6d8e1 100644
--- a/tests/bench/siphash.c
+++ b/tests/bench/siphash.c
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ main(void) {
 		uint64_t sum = 0;
 		uint64_t us;
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (size_t end = len; end < SIZE; end += len) {
 			uint64_t hash;
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ main(void) {
 			count++;
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+		finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		us = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 		printf("%f us wide-lower len %3zu, %7.0f kh/s (%llx)\n",
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ main(void) {
 		uint64_t sum = 0;
 		uint64_t us;
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (size_t end = len; end < SIZE; end += len) {
 			uint64_t hash;
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ main(void) {
 			count++;
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+		finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		us = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 		printf("%f us wide-icase len %3zu, %7.0f kh/s (%llx)\n",
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ main(void) {
 		uint64_t sum = 0;
 		uint64_t us;
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (size_t end = len; end < SIZE; end += len) {
 			uint64_t hash;
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ main(void) {
 			count++;
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+		finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		us = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 		printf("%f us wide-bytes len %3zu, %7.0f kh/s (%llx)\n",
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ main(void) {
 		uint64_t sum = 0;
 		uint64_t us;
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (size_t end = len; end < SIZE; end += len) {
 			uint32_t hash;
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ main(void) {
 			count++;
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+		finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		us = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 		printf("%f us half-lower len %3zu, %7.0f kh/s (%llx)\n",
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ main(void) {
 		uint64_t sum = 0;
 		uint64_t us;
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (size_t end = len; end < SIZE; end += len) {
 			uint32_t hash;
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ main(void) {
 			count++;
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+		finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		us = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 		printf("%f us half-icase len %3zu, %7.0f kh/s (%llx)\n",
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ main(void) {
 		uint64_t sum = 0;
 		uint64_t us;
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&start);
+		start = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		for (size_t end = len; end < SIZE; end += len) {
 			uint32_t hash;
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ main(void) {
 			count++;
 		}
 
-		isc_time_now_hires(&finish);
+		finish = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 		us = isc_time_microdiff(&finish, &start);
 		printf("%f us half-bytes len %3zu, %7.0f kh/s (%llx)\n",
diff --git a/tests/dns/rbt_test.c b/tests/dns/rbt_test.c
index c8b755aef4..f3c10e5cc4 100644
--- a/tests/dns/rbt_test.c
+++ b/tests/dns/rbt_test.c
@@ -1246,8 +1246,7 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(benchmark) {
 		node->data = (void *)(intptr_t)i;
 	}
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&ts1);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	ts1 = isc_time_now();
 
 	nthreads = ISC_MIN(isc_os_ncpus(), 32);
 	nthreads = ISC_MAX(nthreads, 1);
@@ -1259,8 +1258,7 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(benchmark) {
 		isc_thread_join(threads[i], NULL);
 	}
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&ts2);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	ts2 = isc_time_now();
 
 	t = isc_time_microdiff(&ts2, &ts1);
 
diff --git a/tests/dns/zonemgr_test.c b/tests/dns/zonemgr_test.c
index b6fe475fab..33d882f67f 100644
--- a/tests/dns/zonemgr_test.c
+++ b/tests/dns/zonemgr_test.c
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ ISC_LOOP_TEST_IMPL(zonemgr_unreachable) {
 
 	UNUSED(arg);
 
-	TIME_NOW(&now);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	dns_zonemgr_create(mctx, loopmgr, netmgr, &myzonemgr);
 
diff --git a/tests/isc/mem_test.c b/tests/isc/mem_test.c
index 9022532748..6680ed4adf 100644
--- a/tests/isc/mem_test.c
+++ b/tests/isc/mem_test.c
@@ -516,12 +516,10 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_mem_benchmark) {
 	isc_thread_t threads[32];
 	isc_time_t ts1, ts2;
 	double t;
-	isc_result_t result;
 
 	atomic_init(&mem_size, ITEM_SIZE);
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&ts1);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	ts1 = isc_time_now();
 
 	for (int i = 0; i < nthreads; i++) {
 		isc_thread_create(mem_thread, mctx, &threads[i]);
@@ -530,8 +528,7 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_mem_benchmark) {
 		isc_thread_join(threads[i], NULL);
 	}
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&ts2);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	ts2 = isc_time_now();
 
 	t = isc_time_microdiff(&ts2, &ts1);
 
diff --git a/tests/isc/ratelimiter_test.c b/tests/isc/ratelimiter_test.c
index d260686726..5e591605e2 100644
--- a/tests/isc/ratelimiter_test.c
+++ b/tests/isc/ratelimiter_test.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ tick(void *arg) {
 
 	ticks++;
 
-	assert_int_equal(isc_time_now(&tick_time), ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	tick_time = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_ratelimiter_shutdown(rl);
 	isc_ratelimiter_detach(&rl);
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ tick(void *arg) {
 ISC_LOOP_SETUP_IMPL(ratelimiter_common) {
 	assert_null(rl);
 	isc_time_set(&tick_time, 0, 0);
-	assert_int_equal(isc_time_now(&start_time), ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	start_time = isc_time_now();
 	isc_ratelimiter_create(mainloop, &rl);
 }
 
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ tock(void *arg) {
 	isc_mem_put(mctx, rlstat, sizeof(*rlstat));
 
 	ticks++;
-	assert_int_equal(isc_time_now(&tock_time), ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	tock_time = isc_time_now();
 }
 
 ISC_LOOP_SETUP_IMPL(ratelimiter_pertick_interval) {
diff --git a/tests/isc/time_test.c b/tests/isc/time_test.c
index 70858e90d6..a581af43f3 100644
--- a/tests/isc/time_test.c
+++ b/tests/isc/time_test.c
@@ -143,8 +143,7 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_parsehttptimestamp_test) {
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_time_formathttptimestamp(&t, buf, sizeof(buf));
 	result = isc_time_parsehttptimestamp(buf, &x);
@@ -155,15 +154,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_parsehttptimestamp_test) {
 /* print UTC in ISO8601 */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ssZ */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
@@ -191,15 +188,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601_test) {
 /* print UTC in ISO8601 with milliseconds */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601ms_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.sssZ */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
@@ -228,15 +223,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601ms_test) {
 /* print UTC in ISO8601 with microseconds */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601us_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now_hires(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.ssssssZ */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
@@ -265,15 +258,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601us_test) {
 /* print local time in ISO8601 */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601L_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
@@ -300,15 +291,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601L_test) {
 /* print local time in ISO8601 with milliseconds */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601Lms_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.sss */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
@@ -336,15 +325,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601Lms_test) {
 /* print local time in ISO8601 with microseconds */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601Lus_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now_hires(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now_hires();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyy-mm-ddThh:mm:ss.ssssss */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
@@ -372,15 +359,13 @@ ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatISO8601Lus_test) {
 /* print UTC time as yyyymmddhhmmsssss */
 
 ISC_RUN_TEST_IMPL(isc_time_formatshorttimestamp_test) {
-	isc_result_t result;
 	isc_time_t t;
 	char buf[64];
 
 	UNUSED(state);
 
 	setenv("TZ", "America/Los_Angeles", 1);
-	result = isc_time_now(&t);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	t = isc_time_now();
 
 	/* check formatting: yyyymmddhhmmsssss */
 	memset(buf, 'X', sizeof(buf));
diff --git a/tests/isc/timer_test.c b/tests/isc/timer_test.c
index ba68056196..9fc9f4fe91 100644
--- a/tests/isc/timer_test.c
+++ b/tests/isc/timer_test.c
@@ -66,12 +66,10 @@ setup_test_run(void *data) {
 	isc_timertype_t timertype = ((setup_test_arg_t *)data)->timertype;
 	isc_interval_t *interval = ((setup_test_arg_t *)data)->interval;
 	isc_job_cb action = ((setup_test_arg_t *)data)->action;
-	isc_result_t result;
 
 	isc_mutex_lock(&lasttime_mx);
-	result = isc_time_now(&lasttime);
+	lasttime = isc_time_now();
 	UNLOCK(&lasttime_mx);
-	assert_int_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
 
 	isc_timer_create(mainloop, action, (void *)timertype, &timer);
 	isc_timer_start(timer, timertype, interval);
@@ -144,8 +142,7 @@ ticktock(void *arg) {
 		print_message("# tick %d\n", tick);
 	}
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&now);
-	subthread_assert_result_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_interval_set(&interval, seconds, nanoseconds);
 	isc_mutex_lock(&lasttime_mx);
@@ -170,8 +167,7 @@ ticktock(void *arg) {
 	subthread_assert_result_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
 
 	if (atomic_load(&eventcnt) == nevents) {
-		result = isc_time_now(&endtime);
-		subthread_assert_result_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+		endtime = isc_time_now();
 		isc_timer_destroy(&timer);
 		isc_loopmgr_shutdown(loopmgr);
 	}
@@ -212,8 +208,7 @@ test_idle(void *arg) {
 		print_message("# tick %d\n", tick);
 	}
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&now);
-	subthread_assert_result_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_interval_set(&interval, seconds, nanoseconds);
 	isc_mutex_lock(&lasttime_mx);
@@ -276,8 +271,7 @@ test_reset(void *arg) {
 	 * Check expired time.
 	 */
 
-	result = isc_time_now(&now);
-	subthread_assert_result_equal(result, ISC_R_SUCCESS);
+	now = isc_time_now();
 
 	isc_interval_set(&interval, seconds, nanoseconds);
 	isc_mutex_lock(&lasttime_mx);
diff --git a/tests/libtest/ns.c b/tests/libtest/ns.c
index 4d9014ae17..0952de6f36 100644
--- a/tests/libtest/ns.c
+++ b/tests/libtest/ns.c
@@ -434,7 +434,7 @@ ns_test_qctx_create(const ns_test_qctx_create_params_t *params,
 	if (result != ISC_R_SUCCESS) {
 		return (result);
 	}
-	TIME_NOW(&client->tnow);
+	client->tnow = isc_time_now();
 
 	/*
 	 * Every client needs to belong to a view.