diff --git a/pkg/email/funcs.go b/pkg/email/funcs.go
index 21365bd31f..c36bc8d17f 100644
--- a/pkg/email/funcs.go
+++ b/pkg/email/funcs.go
@@ -33,8 +33,9 @@ var defaultFuncs = template.FuncMap{
 		p := path.Join(elems...)
 		return documentationBaseURL + "/" + strings.TrimPrefix(p, "/")
 	},
-	"relTime":  relTime,
-	"enumDesc": enumDesc,
+	"relDuration": relDuration,
+	"relTime":     relTime,
+	"enumDesc":    enumDesc,
 }
 
 const (
@@ -44,9 +45,17 @@ const (
 	year  = 12 * month
 )
 
-func relTime(d time.Duration) string {
+func relDuration(d time.Duration) string {
 	now := time.Now()
-	return humanize.CustomRelTime(now.Add(d), now, "ago", "from now", []humanize.RelTimeMagnitude{
+	return relativeTime(now.Add(d), now)
+}
+
+func relTime(t time.Time) string {
+	return relativeTime(t, time.Now())
+}
+
+func relativeTime(a, b time.Time) string {
+	return humanize.CustomRelTime(a, b, "ago", "from now", []humanize.RelTimeMagnitude{
 		{D: time.Second, Format: "now", DivBy: time.Second},
 		{D: 2 * time.Second, Format: "a second %s", DivBy: 1},
 
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/invitation.html.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/invitation.html.tmpl
index 744f744fc3..92528354ed 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/invitation.html.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/invitation.html.tmpl
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Alternatively, you can use the invitation token <code>{{ .InvitationToken }}</co
 </p>
 {{- with .TTL }}
 <p>
-Your invitation expires {{ relTime . }}, so register before then.
+Your invitation expires {{ relDuration . }}, so register before then.
 </p>
 {{- end }}
 <p>
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/invitation.txt.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/invitation.txt.tmpl
index f1f9f0d174..3db9468fec 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/invitation.txt.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/invitation.txt.tmpl
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ You can now go to {{ .Network.IdentityServerURL }}/register?invitation_token={{
 
 {{- with .TTL }}
 
-Your invitation expires {{ relTime . }}, so register before then.
+Your invitation expires {{ relDuration . }}, so register before then.
 {{- end }}
 
 After successful registration, you can go to {{ .Network.ConsoleURL }} to start adding devices and gateways.
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/login_token.html.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/login_token.html.tmpl
index fb6494b652..05c993b899 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/login_token.html.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/login_token.html.tmpl
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Alternatively, you can use the login token <code>{{ .LoginToken }}</code> direct
 </p>
 {{- with .TTL }}
 <p>
-Your login token expires {{ relTime . }}, so if you don't log in before then, you'll have to request a new token if you still want to log in.
+Your login token expires {{ relDuration . }}, so if you don't log in before then, you'll have to request a new token if you still want to log in.
 </p>
 {{- end }}
 {{- end -}}
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/login_token.txt.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/login_token.txt.tmpl
index f6c09167f5..5adc5d8606 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/login_token.txt.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/login_token.txt.tmpl
@@ -7,5 +7,5 @@ Alternatively, you can use the login token "{{ .LoginToken }}" directly.
 
 {{- with .TTL }}
 
-Your login token expires {{ relTime . }}, so if you don't log in before then, you'll have to request a new token if you still want to log in.
+Your login token expires {{ relDuration . }}, so if you don't log in before then, you'll have to request a new token if you still want to log in.
 {{- end }}
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.html.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.html.tmpl
index b8e7100580..ab268e8384 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.html.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.html.tmpl
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ Please note that this temporary password can only be used to change your passwor
 </p>
 {{- with .TTL }}
 <p>
-Your temporary password expires {{ relTime . }}, so if you don't change your password before then, you'll have to request a new temporary password if you still want to change your password.
+Your temporary password expires {{ relDuration . }}, so if you don't change your password before then, you'll have to request a new temporary password if you still want to change your password.
 </p>
 {{- end }}
 {{- end -}}
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.txt.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.txt.tmpl
index 61b235e7fe..916d576362 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.txt.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/temporary_password.txt.tmpl
@@ -8,5 +8,5 @@ Please note that this temporary password can only be used to change your passwor
 
 {{- with .TTL }}
 
-Your temporary password expires {{ relTime . }}, so if you don't change your password before then, you'll have to request a new temporary password if you still want to change your password.
+Your temporary password expires {{ relDuration . }}, so if you don't change your password before then, you'll have to request a new temporary password if you still want to change your password.
 {{- end }}
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/validate.html.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/validate.html.tmpl
index 4c2832de3e..4b535446d8 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/validate.html.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/validate.html.tmpl
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ Alternatively, you can use the reference <code>{{ .ID }}</code> and confirmation
 </p>
 {{- with .TTL }}
 <p>
-The confirmation token expires {{ relTime . }}, so if you don't confirm your email address before then, you'll have to request a new confirmation if you still want to confirm your email address.
+The confirmation token expires {{ relDuration . }}, so if you don't confirm your email address before then, you'll have to request a new confirmation if you still want to confirm your email address.
 </p>
 {{- end }}
 
diff --git a/pkg/email/templates/validate.txt.tmpl b/pkg/email/templates/validate.txt.tmpl
index 2f725d966c..83c270d1b2 100644
--- a/pkg/email/templates/validate.txt.tmpl
+++ b/pkg/email/templates/validate.txt.tmpl
@@ -9,5 +9,5 @@ Alternatively, you can use the reference "{{ .ID }}" and confirmation token "{{
 
 {{- with .TTL }}
 
-The confirmation token expires {{ relTime . }}, so if you don't confirm your email address before then, you'll have to request a new confirmation if you still want to confirm your email address.
+The confirmation token expires {{ relDuration . }}, so if you don't confirm your email address before then, you'll have to request a new confirmation if you still want to confirm your email address.
 {{- end }}