diff --git a/newlib/libc/time/tzset_r.c b/newlib/libc/time/tzset_r.c
index 9e0cf834bd6b..5bf463ed3dd7 100644
--- a/newlib/libc/time/tzset_r.c
+++ b/newlib/libc/time/tzset_r.c
@@ -45,8 +45,30 @@ _tzset_unlocked_r (struct _reent *reent_ptr)
   if (*tzenv == ':')
     ++tzenv;  
 
-  if (sscanf (tzenv, "%10[^0-9,+-]%n", __tzname_std, &n) <= 0)
-    return;
+  /* allow POSIX angle bracket < > quoted tz abbr e.g. <+03> */
+  if (*tzenv == '<')
+    {
+      ++tzenv;
+
+      /* scan while dest space left, not EoS, not close quote */
+      for (n = 0;
+	     n < sizeof (__tzname_std) && tzenv[n] && '>' != tzenv[n];
+	       ++n)
+	{
+	  __tzname_std[n] = tzenv[n];
+	}
+
+      /* quit if no chars scanned, not close quote, or too many chars */
+      if (!n || '>' != tzenv[n] || sizeof (__tzname_std) <= n)
+	return;
+
+      __tzname_std[n] = '\0';
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      if (sscanf (tzenv, "%10[^0-9,+-]%n", __tzname_std, &n) <= 0)
+        return;
+    }
  
   tzenv += n;
 
@@ -68,17 +90,43 @@ _tzset_unlocked_r (struct _reent *reent_ptr)
   tz->__tzrule[0].offset = sign * (ss + SECSPERMIN * mm + SECSPERHOUR * hh);
   _tzname[0] = __tzname_std;
   tzenv += n;
-  
-  if (sscanf (tzenv, "%10[^0-9,+-]%n", __tzname_dst, &n) <= 0)
-    { /* No dst */
-      _tzname[1] = _tzname[0];
-      _timezone = tz->__tzrule[0].offset;
-      _daylight = 0;
-      return;
+
+  /* allow POSIX angle bracket < > quoted tz abbr e.g. <+03> */
+  if (*tzenv == '<')
+    {
+      ++tzenv;
+
+      /* scan while dest space left, not EoS, not close quote */
+      for (n = 0;
+	     n < sizeof (__tzname_dst) && tzenv[n] && '>' != tzenv[n];
+	       ++n)
+	{
+	  __tzname_dst[n] = tzenv[n];
+	}
+
+      /* quit if no chars scanned, not close quote, or too many chars */
+      if (!n || '>' != tzenv[n] || sizeof (__tzname_dst) <= n)
+	{ /* No dst */
+	  _tzname[1] = _tzname[0];
+	  _timezone = tz->__tzrule[0].offset;
+	  _daylight = 0;
+	  return;
+	}
+
+	__tzname_dst[n] = '\0';
     }
   else
-    _tzname[1] = __tzname_dst;
+    {
+      if (sscanf (tzenv, "%10[^0-9,+-]%n", __tzname_dst, &n) <= 0)
+	{ /* No dst */
+	  _tzname[1] = _tzname[0];
+	  _timezone = tz->__tzrule[0].offset;
+	  _daylight = 0;
+	  return;
+	}
+    }
 
+  _tzname[1] = __tzname_dst;
   tzenv += n;
 
   /* otherwise we have a dst name, look for the offset */