diff --git a/prometheus/metric.go b/prometheus/metric.go
index f018e57..9d9b81a 100644
--- a/prometheus/metric.go
+++ b/prometheus/metric.go
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ func NewMetricWithExemplars(m Metric, exemplars ...Exemplar) (Metric, error) {
 	)
 	for i, e := range exemplars {
 		ts := e.Timestamp
-		if ts == (time.Time{}) {
+		if ts.IsZero() {
 			ts = now
 		}
 		exs[i], err = newExemplar(e.Value, ts, e.Labels)