diff --git a/firmware/common/timefuncs.c b/firmware/common/timefuncs.c
index c8819ea76e..50addad27a 100644
--- a/firmware/common/timefuncs.c
+++ b/firmware/common/timefuncs.c
@@ -24,13 +24,21 @@
 
 #include "kernel.h"
 #include "rtc.h"
+#ifdef HAVE_RTC_IRQ
+#include "rtc-target.h"
+#endif
 #include "timefuncs.h"
 #include "debug.h"
 
 static struct tm tm;
 
 #if !CONFIG_RTC
-static void fill_default_tm(struct tm *tm)
+static inline bool rtc_dirty(void)
+{
+    return true;
+}
+
+static inline int rtc_read_datetime(struct tm *tm)
 {
     tm->tm_sec = 0;
     tm->tm_min = 0;
@@ -38,9 +46,9 @@ static void fill_default_tm(struct tm *tm)
     tm->tm_mday = 1;
     tm->tm_mon = 0;
     tm->tm_year = 70;
-    tm->tm_wday = 1;
-    tm->tm_yday = 0; /* Not implemented for now */
-    tm->tm_isdst = -1; /* Not implemented for now */
+    tm->tm_wday = 4;
+    tm->tm_yday = 0;
+    return 1;
 }
 #endif /* !CONFIG_RTC */
 
@@ -58,24 +66,37 @@ bool valid_time(const struct tm *tm)
     else
         return true;
 }
-#endif /* CONFIG_RTC */
 
-struct tm *get_time(void)
+/* Don't read the RTC more than once per second
+ * returns true if the rtc needs to be read
+ * targets may override with their own implementation
+ */
+#ifndef HAVE_RTC_IRQ
+static inline bool rtc_dirty(void)
 {
-#if CONFIG_RTC
     static long timeout = 0;
 
     /* Don't read the RTC more than once per second */
     if (TIME_AFTER(current_tick, timeout))
     {
-        /* Once per second, 1/10th of a second off */
-        timeout = HZ * (current_tick / HZ + 1) + HZ / 5;
+        /* Once per second, 1/5th of a second off */
+        timeout = current_tick / HZ * HZ + 6*HZ / 5;
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    return false;
+}
+#endif /* HAVE_RTC_IRQ */
+#endif /* CONFIG_RTC */
+
+struct tm *get_time(void)
+{
+    if (rtc_dirty())
+    {
         rtc_read_datetime(&tm);
         tm.tm_isdst = -1; /* Not implemented for now */
     }
-#else /* No RTC */
-    fill_default_tm(&tm);
-#endif /* RTC */
+
     return &tm;
 }
 
diff --git a/firmware/drivers/rtc/rtc_mc13783.c b/firmware/drivers/rtc/rtc_mc13783.c
index a1f78f738d..aedf5f6fa5 100644
--- a/firmware/drivers/rtc/rtc_mc13783.c
+++ b/firmware/drivers/rtc/rtc_mc13783.c
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ static const unsigned char rtc_registers[RTC_NUM_REGS_RD] =
 
 /* was it an alarm that triggered power on ? */
 static bool alarm_start = false;
+static unsigned long rtc_is_dirty = 1; /* force a read right away */
 
 static const unsigned short month_table[13] =
 {
@@ -96,6 +97,16 @@ static bool read_time_and_day(uint32_t regs[RTC_NUM_REGS_RD])
     return true;
 }
 
+void MC13783_EVENT_CB_1HZ(void)
+{
+    rtc_is_dirty = 1;
+}
+
+bool rtc_mc13783_dirty(void)
+{
+    return bitclr32(&rtc_is_dirty, 1);
+}
+
 /** Public APIs **/
 void rtc_init(void)
 {
@@ -105,6 +116,8 @@ void rtc_init(void)
         alarm_start = true;
         mc13783_write(MC13783_INTERRUPT_STATUS1, MC13783_TODAI);
     }
+
+    mc13783_enable_event(MC13783_INT_ID_1HZ, true);
 }
 
 int rtc_read_datetime(struct tm *tm)
diff --git a/firmware/export/config.h b/firmware/export/config.h
index 475bd573d4..a4f0ea94fd 100644
--- a/firmware/export/config.h
+++ b/firmware/export/config.h
@@ -742,6 +742,16 @@ Lyre prototype 1 */
 #endif /* CONFIG_RDS */
 #endif /* HAVE_RDS_CAP */
 
+#if (CONFIG_PLATFORM & PLATFORM_NATIVE)
+#if CONFIG_RTC == RTC_AS3514
+#if CONFIG_CPU == AS3525 || CONFIG_CPU == AS3525v2
+#define HAVE_RTC_IRQ
+#endif
+#elif CONFIG_RTC == RTC_MC13783
+#define HAVE_RTC_IRQ
+#endif
+#endif /* (CONFIG_PLATFORM & PLATFORM_NATIVE) */
+
 #ifndef CONFIG_ORIENTATION
 #if LCD_HEIGHT > LCD_WIDTH
 #define CONFIG_ORIENTATION SCREEN_PORTRAIT
diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/as3525/ascodec-as3525.c b/firmware/target/arm/as3525/ascodec-as3525.c
index 1bd07c57b1..a8ad9706f8 100644
--- a/firmware/target/arm/as3525/ascodec-as3525.c
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/as3525/ascodec-as3525.c
@@ -131,6 +131,16 @@ static unsigned long ascodec_enrd0_shadow = 0;
 
 static void ascodec_wait_cb(struct ascodec_request *req);
 
+/* RTC interrupt and status
+ * Caution: To avoid an extra variable, IRQ_RTC is used as a flag for
+ * ascodec_enrd0_shadow, which conflicts with RVDD_WASLOW, but we're not using
+ * that right now */
+#if CONFIG_RTC
+#define IFRTC_IRQ_RTC   IRQ_RTC
+#else /* !CONFIG_RTC */
+#define IFRTC_IRQ_RTC   0
+#endif /* CONFIG_RTC */
+
 /** --debugging help-- **/
 
 #ifdef DEBUG
@@ -149,7 +159,6 @@ static struct int_audio_counters {
 
 #define COUNT_INT(x) IFDEBUG((int_audio_counters.int_##x)++)
 
-
 /** --stock request and callback functionality -- **/
 
 /* init for common request data (call before submitting) */
@@ -510,13 +519,12 @@ static void ascodec_int_audio_cb(struct ascodec_request *req)
         }
     }
 
+#if CONFIG_RTC
     if (data[2] & IRQ_RTC) { /* rtc irq */
-        /*
-         * Can be configured for once per second or once per minute,
-         * default is once per second
-         */
+        ascodec_enrd0_shadow |= IRQ_RTC;
         COUNT_INT(rtc);
     }
+#endif /* CONFIG_RTC */
 
     if (data[2] & IRQ_ADC) { /* adc finished */
         COUNT_INT(adc);
@@ -580,6 +588,14 @@ int ascodec_read_charger(void)
 }
 #endif /* CONFIG_CHARGING */
 
+#if CONFIG_RTC
+/* read sticky rtc dirty status */
+bool ascodec_rtc_dirty(void)
+{
+    return bitclr32(&ascodec_enrd0_shadow, IRQ_RTC) & IRQ_RTC;
+}
+#endif /* CONFIG_RTC */
+
 /*
  * NOTE:
  * After the conversion to interrupts, ascodec_(lock|unlock) are only used by
@@ -635,8 +651,9 @@ void ascodec_init(void)
     VIC_INT_ENABLE = INTERRUPT_I2C_AUDIO;
     VIC_INT_ENABLE = INTERRUPT_AUDIO;
 
-    /* detect if USB was connected at startup since there is no transition */
-    ascodec_enrd0_shadow = ascodec_read(AS3514_IRQ_ENRD0);
+    /* detect if USB was connected at startup since there is no transition;
+       force an initial read of the clock (if CONFIG_RTC) */
+    ascodec_enrd0_shadow = ascodec_read(AS3514_IRQ_ENRD0) | IFRTC_IRQ_RTC;
     if(ascodec_enrd0_shadow & USB_STATUS)
         usb_insert_int();
 
@@ -651,10 +668,10 @@ void ascodec_init(void)
     /* XIRQ = IRQ, active low reset signal, 6mA push-pull output */
     ascodec_write_pmu(0x1a, 3, (1<<2)|3); /* 1A-3 = Out_Cntr3 register */
     /* Generate irq on (rtc,) adc change */
-    ascodec_write(AS3514_IRQ_ENRD2, /*IRQ_RTC |*/ IRQ_ADC);
+    ascodec_write(AS3514_IRQ_ENRD2, IFRTC_IRQ_RTC | IRQ_ADC);
 #else
     /* Generate irq for push-pull, active high, irq on rtc+adc change */
     ascodec_write(AS3514_IRQ_ENRD2, IRQ_PUSHPULL | IRQ_HIGHACTIVE |
-                                    /*IRQ_RTC |*/ IRQ_ADC);
+                                    IFRTC_IRQ_RTC | IRQ_ADC);
 #endif
 }
diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/as3525/rtc-target.h b/firmware/target/arm/as3525/rtc-target.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..900aa357d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/as3525/rtc-target.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+ *             __________               __   ___.
+ *   Open      \______   \ ____   ____ |  | _\_ |__   _______  ___
+ *   Source     |       _//  _ \_/ ___\|  |/ /| __ \ /  _ \  \/  /
+ *   Jukebox    |    |   (  <_> )  \___|    < | \_\ (  <_> > <  <
+ *   Firmware   |____|_  /\____/ \___  >__|_ \|___  /\____/__/\_ \
+ *                     \/            \/     \/    \/            \/
+ * $Id$
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2017 by Michael Sevakis
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This software is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+#ifndef RTC_TARGET_H
+#define RTC_TARGET_H
+
+bool ascodec_rtc_dirty(void);
+#define rtc_dirty ascodec_rtc_dirty
+
+#endif /* RTC_TARGET_H */
diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/mc13783-target.h b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/mc13783-target.h
index 179c65cad6..4bb148e36c 100644
--- a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/mc13783-target.h
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/gigabeat-s/mc13783-target.h
@@ -46,6 +46,10 @@ static struct spi_node mc13783_spi =
 MC13783_EVENT_VECTOR_TBL_START()
     /* ADC conversion complete */
     MC13783_EVENT_VECTOR(ADCDONE, 0)
+#if CONFIG_RTC
+    /* RTC tick */
+    MC13783_EVENT_VECTOR(1HZ, 0)
+#endif /* CONFIG_RTC */
     /* Power button */
     MC13783_EVENT_VECTOR(ONOFD1, MC13783_ONOFD1S)
     /* Main charger detection */
diff --git a/firmware/target/arm/imx31/rtc-target.h b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/rtc-target.h
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b6dc46204d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/firmware/target/arm/imx31/rtc-target.h
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/***************************************************************************
+ *             __________               __   ___.
+ *   Open      \______   \ ____   ____ |  | _\_ |__   _______  ___
+ *   Source     |       _//  _ \_/ ___\|  |/ /| __ \ /  _ \  \/  /
+ *   Jukebox    |    |   (  <_> )  \___|    < | \_\ (  <_> > <  <
+ *   Firmware   |____|_  /\____/ \___  >__|_ \|___  /\____/__/\_ \
+ *                     \/            \/     \/    \/            \/
+ * $Id$
+ *
+ * Copyright (C) 2017 by Michael Sevakis
+ *
+ * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
+ * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License
+ * as published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2
+ * of the License, or (at your option) any later version.
+ *
+ * This software is distributed on an "AS IS" basis, WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY
+ * KIND, either express or implied.
+ *
+ ****************************************************************************/
+#ifndef RTC_TARGET_H
+#define RTC_TARGET_H
+
+bool rtc_mc13783_dirty(void);
+#define rtc_dirty rtc_mc13783_dirty
+
+#endif /* RTC_TARGET_H */