diff --git a/src/bin/cli.ml b/src/bin/cli.ml
index b0a2c9251..edc0d9b44 100644
--- a/src/bin/cli.ml
+++ b/src/bin/cli.ml
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ let amount =
   let open Arg in
   let info =
     let docv = "AMOUNT" in
-    let doc = "$(docv) is the amount the dry-run transaction will use." in
+    let doc = "$(docv) is the amount the michelson interpreter will use." in
     info ~docv ~doc ["amount"] in
   value @@ opt string "0" info
 
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ let sender =
   let open Arg in
   let info =
     let docv = "SENDER" in
-    let doc = "$(docv) is the sender the dry-run transaction will use." in
+    let doc = "$(docv) is the sender the michelson interpreter transaction will use." in
     info ~docv ~doc ["sender"] in
   value @@ opt (some string) None info
 
@@ -82,10 +82,18 @@ let source =
   let open Arg in
   let info =
     let docv = "SOURCE" in
-    let doc = "$(docv) is the source the dry-run transaction will use." in
+    let doc = "$(docv) is the source the michelson interpreter transaction will use." in
     info ~docv ~doc ["source"] in
   value @@ opt (some string) None info
 
+let predecessor_timestamp =
+  let open Arg in
+  let info =
+    let docv = "PREDECESSOR_TIMESTAMP" in
+    let doc = "$(docv) is the pedecessor_timestamp the michelson interpreter transaction will use (e.g. '2000-01-01T10:10:10Z')" in
+    info ~docv ~doc ["predecessor-timestamp"] in
+  value @@ opt (some string) None info
+
 let display_format =
   let open Arg in
   let info  =
@@ -176,7 +184,7 @@ let compile_parameter =
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
 
 let interpret =
-  let f expression init_file syntax amount sender source display_format =
+  let f expression init_file syntax amount sender source predecessor_timestamp display_format =
     toplevel ~display_format @@
     let%bind (decl_list,state,env) = match init_file with
       | Some init_file ->
@@ -192,13 +200,13 @@ let interpret =
     let%bind (typed_exp,_)     = Compile.Of_simplified.compile_expression ~env ~state simplified_exp in
     let%bind mini_c_exp        = Compile.Of_typed.compile_expression typed_exp in
     let%bind compiled_exp      = Compile.Of_mini_c.aggregate_and_compile_expression decl_list mini_c_exp in
-    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {amount ; sender ; source } in
+    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {predecessor_timestamp ; amount ; sender ; source } in
     let%bind value             = Run.run ~options compiled_exp.expr compiled_exp.expr_ty in
     let%bind simplified_output = Uncompile.uncompile_expression typed_exp.type_annotation value in
     ok @@ Format.asprintf "%a\n" Ast_simplified.PP.expression simplified_output
   in
   let term =
-    Term.(const f $ expression "EXPRESSION" 0 $ init_file $ syntax $ amount $ sender $ source $ display_format ) in
+    Term.(const f $ expression "EXPRESSION" 0 $ init_file $ syntax $ amount $ sender $ source $ predecessor_timestamp $ display_format ) in
   let cmdname = "interpret" in
   let doc = "Subcommand: interpret the expression in the context initialized by the provided source file." in
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
@@ -233,7 +241,7 @@ let compile_storage =
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
 
 let dry_run =
-  let f source_file entry_point storage input amount sender source syntax display_format =
+  let f source_file entry_point storage input amount sender source predecessor_timestamp syntax display_format =
     toplevel ~display_format @@
     let%bind simplified      = Compile.Of_source.compile source_file (Syntax_name syntax) in
     let%bind typed_prg,state = Compile.Of_simplified.compile simplified in
@@ -251,20 +259,20 @@ let dry_run =
     let%bind compiled_params   = Compile.Of_mini_c.compile_expression mini_c in
     let%bind args_michelson    = Run.evaluate_expression compiled_params.expr compiled_params.expr_ty in
 
-    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {amount ; sender ; source } in
+    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {predecessor_timestamp ; amount ; sender ; source } in
     let%bind michelson_output  = Run.run_contract ~options michelson_prg.expr michelson_prg.expr_ty args_michelson in
 
     let%bind simplified_output = Uncompile.uncompile_typed_program_entry_function_result typed_prg entry_point michelson_output in
     ok @@ Format.asprintf "%a\n" Ast_simplified.PP.expression simplified_output
   in
   let term =
-    Term.(const f $ source_file 0 $ entry_point 1 $ expression "PARAMETER" 2 $ expression "STORAGE" 3 $ amount $ sender $ source $ syntax $ display_format) in
+    Term.(const f $ source_file 0 $ entry_point 1 $ expression "PARAMETER" 2 $ expression "STORAGE" 3 $ amount $ sender $ source $ predecessor_timestamp $ syntax $ display_format) in
   let cmdname = "dry-run" in
   let doc = "Subcommand: run a smart-contract with the given storage and input." in
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
 
 let run_function =
-  let f source_file entry_point parameter amount sender source syntax display_format =
+  let f source_file entry_point parameter amount sender source predecessor_timestamp syntax display_format =
     toplevel ~display_format @@
     let%bind v_syntax        = Helpers.syntax_to_variant (Syntax_name syntax) (Some source_file) in
     let%bind simplified_prg  = Compile.Of_source.compile source_file (Syntax_name syntax) in
@@ -278,32 +286,32 @@ let run_function =
     let%bind compiled_applied = Compile.Of_typed.compile_expression typed_app in
 
     let%bind michelson         = Compile.Of_mini_c.aggregate_and_compile_expression mini_c_prg compiled_applied in
-    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {amount ; sender ; source } in
+    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {predecessor_timestamp ; amount ; sender ; source } in
     let%bind michelson_output  = Run.run ~options michelson.expr michelson.expr_ty in
     let%bind simplified_output = Uncompile.uncompile_typed_program_entry_function_result typed_prg entry_point michelson_output in
     ok @@ Format.asprintf "%a\n" Ast_simplified.PP.expression simplified_output
   in
   let term =
-    Term.(const f $ source_file 0 $ entry_point 1 $ expression "PARAMETER" 2 $ amount $ sender $ source $ syntax $ display_format) in
+    Term.(const f $ source_file 0 $ entry_point 1 $ expression "PARAMETER" 2 $ amount $ sender $ source $ predecessor_timestamp $ syntax $ display_format) in
   let cmdname = "run-function" in
   let doc = "Subcommand: run a function with the given parameter." in
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
 
 let evaluate_value =
-  let f source_file entry_point amount sender source syntax display_format =
+  let f source_file entry_point amount sender source predecessor_timestamp syntax display_format =
     toplevel ~display_format @@
     let%bind simplified        = Compile.Of_source.compile source_file (Syntax_name syntax) in
     let%bind typed_prg,_       = Compile.Of_simplified.compile simplified in
     let%bind mini_c            = Compile.Of_typed.compile typed_prg in
     let%bind (exp,_)           = Mini_c.get_entry mini_c entry_point in
     let%bind compiled          = Compile.Of_mini_c.aggregate_and_compile_expression mini_c exp in
-    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {amount ; sender ; source } in
+    let%bind options           = Run.make_dry_run_options {predecessor_timestamp ; amount ; sender ; source } in
     let%bind michelson_output  = Run.run ~options compiled.expr compiled.expr_ty in
     let%bind simplified_output = Uncompile.uncompile_typed_program_entry_expression_result typed_prg entry_point michelson_output in
     ok @@ Format.asprintf "%a\n" Ast_simplified.PP.expression simplified_output
   in
   let term =
-    Term.(const f $ source_file 0 $ entry_point 1 $ amount $ sender $ source $ syntax $ display_format) in
+    Term.(const f $ source_file 0 $ entry_point 1 $ amount $ sender $ source $ predecessor_timestamp $ syntax $ display_format) in
   let cmdname = "evaluate-value" in
   let doc = "Subcommand: evaluate a given definition." in
   (Term.ret term , Term.info ~doc cmdname)
diff --git a/src/main/run/of_michelson.ml b/src/main/run/of_michelson.ml
index ae2a2ea9f..ff7f99ff0 100644
--- a/src/main/run/of_michelson.ml
+++ b/src/main/run/of_michelson.ml
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ type run_failwith_res =
 
 type dry_run_options =
   { amount : string ;
+    predecessor_timestamp : string option ;
     sender : string option ;
     source : string option }
 
@@ -44,7 +45,14 @@ let make_dry_run_options (opts : dry_run_options) : options result =
           (simple_error "invalid source address")
           (Contract.of_b58check source) in
       ok (Some source) in
-  ok @@ make_options ~amount ?source:sender ?payer:source ()
+  let%bind predecessor_timestamp =
+    match opts.predecessor_timestamp with
+    | None -> ok None
+    | Some st ->
+      match Memory_proto_alpha.Protocol.Alpha_context.Timestamp.of_notation st with
+        | Some t -> ok (Some t)
+        | None -> simple_fail "bad timestamp notation" in
+  ok @@ make_options ?predecessor_timestamp:predecessor_timestamp ~amount ?source:sender ?payer:source ()
 
 let ex_value_ty_to_michelson (v : ex_typed_value) : Michelson.t result =
   let (Ex_typed_value (value , ty)) = v in
diff --git a/src/test/time_lock_tests.ml b/src/test/time_lock_tests.ml
index 9daac3825..83830b11f 100644
--- a/src/test/time_lock_tests.ml
+++ b/src/test/time_lock_tests.ml
@@ -43,26 +43,22 @@ let storage st = e_timestamp (Int64.to_int @@ to_sec st)
 
 let early_call () =
   let%bind program,_ = get_program () in
-  let%bind now = mk_time "2000-01-01T00:10:10Z" in
+  let%bind predecessor_timestamp = mk_time "2000-01-01T00:10:10Z" in
   let%bind lock_time = mk_time "2000-01-01T10:10:10Z" in
   let init_storage = storage lock_time in
   let options =
-    let tezos_context = { Proto_alpha_utils.Memory_proto_alpha.dummy_environment.tezos_context with
-      predecessor_timestamp = now ; } in
-    Proto_alpha_utils.Memory_proto_alpha.make_options ~tezos_context () in
+    Proto_alpha_utils.Memory_proto_alpha.make_options ~predecessor_timestamp () in
   let exp_failwith = "Contract is still time locked" in
   expect_string_failwith ~options program "main"
     (e_pair (call empty_message)  init_storage) exp_failwith
 
 let call_on_time () =
   let%bind program,_ = get_program () in
-  let%bind now = mk_time "2000-01-01T10:10:10Z" in
+  let%bind predecessor_timestamp = mk_time "2000-01-01T10:10:10Z" in
   let%bind lock_time = mk_time "2000-01-01T00:10:10Z" in
   let init_storage = storage lock_time in
   let options =
-    let tezos_context = { Proto_alpha_utils.Memory_proto_alpha.dummy_environment.tezos_context with
-      predecessor_timestamp = now ; } in
-    Proto_alpha_utils.Memory_proto_alpha.make_options ~tezos_context () in
+    Proto_alpha_utils.Memory_proto_alpha.make_options ~predecessor_timestamp () in
   expect_eq ~options program "main"
     (e_pair (call empty_message) init_storage) (e_pair empty_op_list init_storage)
 
diff --git a/vendors/ligo-utils/proto-alpha-utils/x_memory_proto_alpha.ml b/vendors/ligo-utils/proto-alpha-utils/x_memory_proto_alpha.ml
index 460494379..d47b85086 100644
--- a/vendors/ligo-utils/proto-alpha-utils/x_memory_proto_alpha.ml
+++ b/vendors/ligo-utils/proto-alpha-utils/x_memory_proto_alpha.ml
@@ -1066,13 +1066,16 @@ type options = {
 
 let make_options
     ?(tezos_context = dummy_environment.tezos_context)
+    ?(predecessor_timestamp = dummy_environment.tezos_context.predecessor_timestamp)
     ?(source = (List.nth dummy_environment.identities 0).implicit_contract)
     ?(self = (List.nth dummy_environment.identities 0).implicit_contract)
     ?(payer = (List.nth dummy_environment.identities 1).implicit_contract)
     ?(amount = Alpha_context.Tez.one)
     ?(chain_id = Environment.Chain_id.zero)
     ()
-  = {
+  =
+  let tezos_context = { tezos_context with predecessor_timestamp } in
+  {
     tezos_context ;
     source ;
     self ;