diff --git a/nomad/node_endpoint.go b/nomad/node_endpoint.go
index 9dbd7f871..7f4265fb9 100644
--- a/nomad/node_endpoint.go
+++ b/nomad/node_endpoint.go
@@ -820,12 +820,13 @@ func (n *Node) UpdateAlloc(args *structs.AllocUpdateRequest, reply *structs.Gene
 		return fmt.Errorf("must update at least one allocation")
 	}
 
-	// Add this to the batch
-	n.updatesLock.Lock()
+	// Update modified timestamp for client initiated allocation updates
 	now := time.Now().UTC().UnixNano()
 	for _, alloc := range args.Alloc {
 		alloc.ModifyTime = now
 	}
+	// Add this to the batch
+	n.updatesLock.Lock()
 	n.updates = append(n.updates, args.Alloc...)
 
 	// Start a new batch if none
diff --git a/nomad/plan_apply.go b/nomad/plan_apply.go
index fe2ed2e5c..5d2c29bcf 100644
--- a/nomad/plan_apply.go
+++ b/nomad/plan_apply.go
@@ -149,9 +149,8 @@ func (s *Server) applyPlan(plan *structs.Plan, result *structs.PlanResult, snap
 	for _, alloc := range req.Alloc {
 		if alloc.CreateTime == 0 {
 			alloc.CreateTime = now
-		} else {
-			alloc.ModifyTime = now
 		}
+		alloc.ModifyTime = now
 	}
 
 	// Dispatch the Raft transaction
diff --git a/nomad/plan_apply_test.go b/nomad/plan_apply_test.go
index 6bf7181b9..7d3195d92 100644
--- a/nomad/plan_apply_test.go
+++ b/nomad/plan_apply_test.go
@@ -147,6 +147,16 @@ func TestPlanApply_applyPlan(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("missing alloc")
 	}
 
+	if out.CreateTime <= 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid create time %v", out.CreateTime)
+	}
+	if out.ModifyTime <= 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("invalid modify time %v", out.CreateTime)
+	}
+	if out.CreateTime != out.ModifyTime {
+		t.Fatalf("create time %v modify time %v must be equal", out.CreateTime, out.ModifyTime)
+	}
+
 	// Lookup the new deployment
 	dout, err := fsmState.DeploymentByID(ws, plan.Deployment.ID)
 	if err != nil {