diff --git a/cli/app/backup.go b/cli/app/backup.go
index 55877b8c..662b80a7 100644
--- a/cli/app/backup.go
+++ b/cli/app/backup.go
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"io"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
-	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -133,6 +132,12 @@ This single file can be used to restore your app. See "abra app restore" for mor
 	},
 }
 
+// TimeStamp generates a file name friendly timestamp.
+func TimeStamp() string {
+	ts := time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
+	return strings.Replace(ts, ":", "-", -1)
+}
+
 // runBackup does the actual backup logic.
 func runBackup(app config.App, serviceName string, bkConfig backupConfig) error {
 	if len(bkConfig.backupPaths) == 0 {
@@ -182,9 +187,8 @@ func runBackup(app config.App, serviceName string, bkConfig backupConfig) error
 
 	var tempBackupPaths []string
 	for _, remoteBackupPath := range bkConfig.backupPaths {
-		timestamp := strconv.Itoa(time.Now().Nanosecond())
 		sanitisedPath := strings.ReplaceAll(remoteBackupPath, "/", "_")
-		localBackupPath := filepath.Join(config.BACKUP_DIR, fmt.Sprintf("%s%s_%s.tar.gz", fullServiceName, sanitisedPath, timestamp))
+		localBackupPath := filepath.Join(config.BACKUP_DIR, fmt.Sprintf("%s%s_%s.tar.gz", fullServiceName, sanitisedPath, TimeStamp()))
 		logrus.Debugf("temporarily backing up %s:%s to %s", fullServiceName, remoteBackupPath, localBackupPath)
 
 		logrus.Infof("backing up %s:%s", fullServiceName, remoteBackupPath)
@@ -290,8 +294,7 @@ func mergeArchives(tarPaths []string, serviceName string) error {
 	var out io.Writer
 	var cout *pgzip.Writer
 
-	timestamp := strconv.Itoa(time.Now().Nanosecond())
-	localBackupPath := filepath.Join(config.BACKUP_DIR, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s.tar.gz", serviceName, timestamp))
+	localBackupPath := filepath.Join(config.BACKUP_DIR, fmt.Sprintf("%s_%s.tar.gz", serviceName, TimeStamp()))
 
 	fout, err := os.Create(localBackupPath)
 	if err != nil {