diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_e_a_d.py b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_e_a_d.py
index 8197cb27d..929af0639 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_e_a_d.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/ttLib/tables/_h_e_a_d.py
@@ -104,9 +104,22 @@ def calc_mac_epoch_diff():
 	"""calculate the difference between the original Mac epoch (1904)
 	to the epoch on this machine.
 	"""
+	# Since the below code tracebacks in some timezones,
+	# just return the constant that the code returns
+	return -2082844800
+	# Also, the commented lines consitute a hacky fix
+	# import os
+	# try:
+	# 	tz = os.environ['TZ']
+	# except:
+	# 	tz = time.tzname[0]
+	# os.environ['TZ'] = 'UTC'
+	# time.tzset()
 	safe_epoch_t = (1972, 1, 1, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)
 	safe_epoch = time.mktime(safe_epoch_t) - time.timezone
 	assert time.gmtime(safe_epoch)[:6] == safe_epoch_t[:6]
+	# os.environ['TZ'] = tz
+	# time.tzset()
 	seconds1904to1972 = 60 * 60 * 24 * (365 * (1972-1904) + 17) # thanks, Laurence!
 	return long(safe_epoch - seconds1904to1972)