diff --git a/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py b/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py
index ac961bf2..0c0d008b 100644
--- a/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py
+++ b/telethon/_updates/messagebox.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class MessageBox:
         map: dict = _sentinel,  # entry -> state
 
         # Additional fields beyond PTS needed by `ENTRY_ACCOUNT`.
-        date: datetime.datetime = epoch(),
+        date: datetime.datetime = epoch() + datetime.timedelta(seconds=1),
         seq: int = NO_SEQ,
 
         # Holds the entry with the closest deadline (optimization to avoid recalculating the minimum deadline).
@@ -478,7 +478,8 @@ class MessageBox:
         if any_pts_applied[0]:
             if __debug__:
                 self._trace('Updating seq as local pts was updated too')
-            self.date = date
+            if date != epoch():
+                self.date = date
             if seq != NO_SEQ:
                 self.seq = seq
 
@@ -689,7 +690,7 @@ class MessageBox:
             updates=diff.other_updates,
             users=diff.users,
             chats=diff.chats,
-            date=epoch() + datetime.timedelta(seconds=1),
+            date=epoch(),
             seq=NO_SEQ,  # this way date is not used
         ), chat_hashes, updates)
 
@@ -798,7 +799,7 @@ class MessageBox:
                 updates=diff.other_updates,
                 users=diff.users,
                 chats=diff.chats,
-                date=epoch() + datetime.timedelta(seconds=1),
+                date=epoch(),
                 seq=NO_SEQ,  # this way date is not used
             ), chat_hashes, updates)
 
diff --git a/telethon/version.py b/telethon/version.py
index 57772768..832c0ac0 100644
--- a/telethon/version.py
+++ b/telethon/version.py
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 # Versions should comply with PEP440.
 # This line is parsed in setup.py:
-__version__ = '1.30.2'
+__version__ = '1.30.3'