diff --git a/applications/dns.nix b/applications/dns.nix
index eabdce8..4d53d94 100644
--- a/applications/dns.nix
+++ b/applications/dns.nix
@@ -1,6 +1,11 @@
 { lib, pkgs, config, ... }:
 let
   cfg = config.skynet_dns;
+
+  # writes current date to a file
+  current_date_path = pkgs.runCommand "current_date" {} "date '+%Y%m%d%S' > $out";
+  # reads that date to a string
+  current_date = (lib.readFile current_date_path);
 in {
   options = {
     skynet_dns = {
@@ -150,20 +155,21 @@ in {
           $TTL 60  ; 1 minute
           ; hostmaster@skynet.ie is an email address that recieves stuff related to dns
           @   IN SOA  ${cfg.own.nameserver}.skynet.ie. hostmaster.skynet.ie. (
-               2023011701 ; Serial (YYYYMMDDCC)
-               600        ; Refresh (10 minutes)
-               300        ; Retry (5 minutes)
-               2419200    ; Expire (4 weeks)
-               3600       ; Minimum (1 hour)
-             )
-             NS  ns1.skynet.ie.
-             NS  ns2.skynet.ie.
-             ; @ stands for teh root domain so teh A record below is where skynet.ie points to
-             A   193.1.99.76
-             MX  5 mail.skynet.ie.
+           ; Serial (YYYYMMDDCC) this has to be updated for each time the record is updated
+           ${current_date}
+           600        ; Refresh (10 minutes)
+           300        ; Retry (5 minutes)
+           2419200    ; Expire (4 weeks)
+           3600       ; Minimum (1 hour)
+          )
+          NS  ns1.skynet.ie.
+          NS  ns2.skynet.ie.
+          ; @ stands for teh root domain so teh A record below is where skynet.ie points to
+          A   193.1.99.76
+          MX  5 mail.skynet.ie.
 
-             ; can have multiple mailserves
-             ;MX  20 mail2.skynet.ie.
+          ; can have multiple mailserves
+          ;MX  20 mail2.skynet.ie.
 
 
           ; ------------------------------------------