diff --git a/tests/http/scorecard.py b/tests/http/scorecard.py
index d6d89a3753..08986ba1d6 100755
--- a/tests/http/scorecard.py
+++ b/tests/http/scorecard.py
@@ -693,7 +693,7 @@ class ScoreRunner:
                 'os': self.env.curl_os(),
                 'server': self.server_descr,
                 'samples': nsamples,
-                'date': f'{datetime.datetime.now(tz=datetime.timezone.utc).isoformat()}',
+                'date': f'{datetime.datetime.now(datetime.timezone.utc).isoformat()}',
             }
         }
         if self._limit_rate:
diff --git a/tests/http/testenv/certs.py b/tests/http/testenv/certs.py
index ab87bfa49e..444f260116 100644
--- a/tests/http/testenv/certs.py
+++ b/tests/http/testenv/certs.py
@@ -344,17 +344,15 @@ class CertStore:
             cert = self.load_pem_cert(cert_file)
             pkey = self.load_pem_pkey(pkey_file)
             try:
-                now = datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc)
-                if check_valid and \
-                    ((cert.not_valid_after_utc < now) or
-                     (cert.not_valid_before_utc > now)):
-                    return None
-            except AttributeError:  # older python
-                now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
-                if check_valid and \
-                        ((cert.not_valid_after < now) or
-                         (cert.not_valid_before > now)):
-                    return None
+                before = cert.not_valid_before_utc
+                after = cert.not_valid_after_utc
+            except AttributeError:  # cryptography < 42.0.0
+                # the timestamps are already returned in UTC, just missing the time zone
+                before = cert.not_valid_before.replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+                after = cert.not_valid_after.replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+            now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+            if check_valid and ((after < now) or (before > now)):
+                return None
             creds = Credentials(name=name, cert=cert, pkey=pkey, issuer=issuer)
             creds.set_store(self)
             creds.set_files(cert_file, pkey_file, comb_file)