diff --git a/transaction.go b/transaction.go
index b8c25bb94..624161f80 100644
--- a/transaction.go
+++ b/transaction.go
@@ -390,8 +390,6 @@ func CompareTransactions(t1, t2 Transaction) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-const RFC3339NanoNoZone = "2006-01-02T15:04:05.999999999"
-
 func (trns *Transaction) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
 	tmp := &struct {
 		ID        string      `json:"id"`
@@ -426,7 +424,7 @@ func (trns *Transaction) UnmarshalJSON(b []byte) error {
 	}
 
 	if tmp.Deadline != "" {
-		trns.Deadline, err = time.ParseInLocation(RFC3339NanoNoZone, tmp.Deadline, time.UTC)
+		trns.Deadline, err = time.Parse(time.RFC3339Nano, tmp.Deadline)
 	}
 	return errors.Wrap(err, "parsing deadline")
 }
@@ -443,6 +441,6 @@ func (trns *Transaction) MarshalJSON() ([]byte, error) {
 		Active:    trns.Active,
 		Exclusive: trns.Exclusive,
 		Timeout:   trns.Timeout.String(),
-		Deadline:  trns.Deadline.In(time.UTC).Format(RFC3339NanoNoZone),
+		Deadline:  trns.Deadline.In(time.UTC).Format(time.RFC3339Nano),
 	})
 }
diff --git a/transaction.md b/transaction.md
index c3bdc27e3..aeefad8bc 100644
--- a/transaction.md
+++ b/transaction.md
@@ -165,6 +165,7 @@ goes through API (and is passed directly to Server). (unimplemented)
 - [ ] implement transaction id in header
 - [x] propagate context
 - [ ] implement and use persistent transaction store rather than inmem.
+  - [ ] implement some method for syncing transaction stores
 - [ ] update go-pilosa/gpexp to actually USE transactions
   - [ ] update IDK to use updated go-pilosa
 - [ ] external testing with e.g. curl