diff --git a/common/database/database_update_manifest.cpp b/common/database/database_update_manifest.cpp
index 84f576a74..f5d5d4240 100644
--- a/common/database/database_update_manifest.cpp
+++ b/common/database/database_update_manifest.cpp
@@ -5346,6 +5346,16 @@ CREATE TABLE guild_tributes (
 ) ENGINE=InnoDB;
 )"
 	},
+	ManifestEntry{
+		.version = 9261,
+		.description = "2024_02_11_character_corpses.sql",
+		.check = "SHOW COLUMNS FROM `character_corpses` LIKE 'time_of_death'",
+		.condition = "contains",
+		.match = "0000-00-00 00:00:00",
+		.sql = R"(
+ALTER TABLE `character_corpses` MODIFY COLUMN `time_of_death` datetime NOT NULL DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP;
+		)"
+	}
 // -- template; copy/paste this when you need to create a new entry
 //	ManifestEntry{
 //		.version = 9228,
diff --git a/common/repositories/base/base_character_corpses_repository.h b/common/repositories/base/base_character_corpses_repository.h
index dd8cacb5b..de6aebca9 100644
--- a/common/repositories/base/base_character_corpses_repository.h
+++ b/common/repositories/base/base_character_corpses_repository.h
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ public:
 		e.y                = 0;
 		e.z                = 0;
 		e.heading          = 0;
-		e.time_of_death    = 0;
+		e.time_of_death    = std::time(nullptr);
 		e.guild_consent_id = 0;
 		e.is_rezzed        = 0;
 		e.is_buried        = 0;
diff --git a/common/version.h b/common/version.h
index d2fbbe9fc..7906d27eb 100644
--- a/common/version.h
+++ b/common/version.h
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
  * Manifest: https://github.com/EQEmu/Server/blob/master/utils/sql/db_update_manifest.txt
  */
 
-#define CURRENT_BINARY_DATABASE_VERSION 9260
+#define CURRENT_BINARY_DATABASE_VERSION 9261
 #define CURRENT_BINARY_BOTS_DATABASE_VERSION 9042
 
 #endif