diff --git a/pkg/kgo/helpers_test.go b/pkg/kgo/helpers_test.go
index 4e8bc2fd..f7b8e97f 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/helpers_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/helpers_test.go
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func testLogger() Logger {
 	num := loggerNum.Add(1)
 	pfx := strconv.Itoa(int(num))
 	return BasicLogger(os.Stderr, testLogLevel, func() string {
-		return time.Now().Format("[15:04:05 ") + pfx + "]"
+		return time.Now().UTC().Format("[15:04:05.999 ") + pfx + "]"
 	})
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/kgo/txn_test.go b/pkg/kgo/txn_test.go
index 9a7f8d8f..63a6f5c8 100644
--- a/pkg/kgo/txn_test.go
+++ b/pkg/kgo/txn_test.go
@@ -28,7 +28,9 @@ func TestTxnEtl(t *testing.T) {
 	go func() {
 		cl, err := NewClient(
 			getSeedBrokers(),
-			WithLogger(BasicLogger(os.Stderr, testLogLevel, nil)),
+			WithLogger(BasicLogger(os.Stderr, testLogLevel, func() string {
+				return time.Now().UTC().Format("15:04:05.999") + " "
+			})),
 			TransactionalID("p"+randsha()),
 			TransactionTimeout(2*time.Minute),
 			MaxBufferedRecords(10000),