diff --git a/robot-server/robot_server/errors/error_mappers.py b/robot-server/robot_server/errors/error_mappers.py
index dbf4fa34a2a2..70aa815bf707 100644
--- a/robot-server/robot_server/errors/error_mappers.py
+++ b/robot-server/robot_server/errors/error_mappers.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 from opentrons_shared_data.errors import EnumeratedError, PythonException
 
 
-async def map_unexpected_error(error: BaseException) -> EnumeratedError:
+def map_unexpected_error(error: BaseException) -> EnumeratedError:
     """Map an unhandled Exception to a known exception."""
     if isinstance(error, EnumeratedError):
         return error
diff --git a/robot-server/robot_server/protocols/protocol_analyzer.py b/robot-server/robot_server/protocols/protocol_analyzer.py
index 4f9b48adb399..49457d864f9c 100644
--- a/robot-server/robot_server/protocols/protocol_analyzer.py
+++ b/robot-server/robot_server/protocols/protocol_analyzer.py
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 """Protocol analysis module."""
 import logging
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
 
 from opentrons import protocol_runner
 from opentrons.protocol_engine.errors import ErrorOccurrence
+import opentrons.util.helpers as datetime_helper
 
 import robot_server.errors.error_mappers as em
 
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ async def analyze(
                 protocol_source=protocol_resource.source, deck_configuration=[]
             )
         except BaseException as error:
-            internal_error = await em.map_unexpected_error(error=error)
+            internal_error = em.map_unexpected_error(error=error)
             await self._analysis_store.update(
                 analysis_id=analysis_id,
                 robot_type=protocol_resource.source.robot_type,
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ async def analyze(
                         # TODO(tz, 2-15-24): replace with a different error type
                         #  when we are able to support different errors.
                         id="internal-error",
-                        createdAt=datetime.now(tz=timezone.utc),
+                        createdAt=datetime_helper.utc_now(),
                         error=internal_error,
                     )
                 ],
diff --git a/robot-server/tests/protocols/test_protocol_analyzer.py b/robot-server/tests/protocols/test_protocol_analyzer.py
index 451be5811314..5f53452b7a21 100644
--- a/robot-server/tests/protocols/test_protocol_analyzer.py
+++ b/robot-server/tests/protocols/test_protocol_analyzer.py
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 """Tests for the ProtocolAnalyzer."""
 import pytest
-from decoy import Decoy, matchers
+from decoy import Decoy
 from datetime import datetime
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 )
 import opentrons.protocol_runner as protocol_runner
 from opentrons.protocol_reader import ProtocolSource, JsonProtocolConfig
+import opentrons.util.helpers as datetime_helper
 
 from robot_server.protocols.analysis_store import AnalysisStore
 from robot_server.protocols.protocol_store import ProtocolResource
@@ -35,6 +36,13 @@ def patch_mock_map_unexpected_error(
     monkeypatch.setattr(em, "map_unexpected_error", mock_map_unexpected_error)
 
 
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def patch_mock_get_utc_datetime(decoy: Decoy, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
+    """Replace utc_now with a mock."""
+    mock_get_utc_datetime = decoy.mock(func=datetime_helper.utc_now)
+    monkeypatch.setattr(datetime_helper, "utc_now", mock_get_utc_datetime)
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def patch_mock_create_simulating_runner(
     decoy: Decoy, monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch
@@ -165,7 +173,7 @@ async def test_analyze_updates_pending_on_error(
     analysis_store: AnalysisStore,
     subject: ProtocolAnalyzer,
 ) -> None:
-    """It should be able to analyze a protocol."""
+    """It should update pending analysis with an internal error."""
     robot_type: RobotType = "OT-3 Standard"
 
     protocol_resource = ProtocolResource(
@@ -187,7 +195,7 @@ async def test_analyze_updates_pending_on_error(
 
     error_occurrence = pe_errors.ErrorOccurrence.construct(
         id="internal-error",
-        createdAt=matchers.IsA(datetime),
+        createdAt=datetime(year=2023, month=3, day=3),
         errorType="EnumeratedError",
         detail="You got me!!",
     )
@@ -212,10 +220,14 @@ async def test_analyze_updates_pending_on_error(
         )
     ).then_raise(raised_exception)
 
-    decoy.when(await em.map_unexpected_error(error=raised_exception)).then_return(
+    decoy.when(em.map_unexpected_error(error=raised_exception)).then_return(
         enumerated_error
     )
 
+    decoy.when(datetime_helper.utc_now()).then_return(
+        datetime(year=2023, month=3, day=3)
+    )
+
     await subject.analyze(
         protocol_resource=protocol_resource,
         analysis_id="analysis-id",