diff --git a/common/djangoapps/entitlements/api/v1/views.py b/common/djangoapps/entitlements/api/v1/views.py
index 486fdfd5f5..8755dd7023 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/entitlements/api/v1/views.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/entitlements/api/v1/views.py
@@ -332,11 +332,11 @@ class EntitlementEnrollmentViewSet(viewsets.GenericViewSet):
             )
 
         # Verify that the run is fullfillable
-        if not is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_run_key, datetime.datetime.now(UTC), entitlement):
+        if not is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_run_key, entitlement):
             return Response(
                 status=status.HTTP_400_BAD_REQUEST,
                 data={
-                    'message': 'The User is unable to enroll in Course Run {course_id} it is not available.'.format(
+                    'message': 'The User is unable to enroll in Course Run {course_id}, it is not available.'.format(
                         course_id=course_run_id
                     )
                 }
diff --git a/common/djangoapps/entitlements/utils.py b/common/djangoapps/entitlements/utils.py
index 55f5be9ae7..eb2270d9e0 100644
--- a/common/djangoapps/entitlements/utils.py
+++ b/common/djangoapps/entitlements/utils.py
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
 from course_modes.models import CourseMode
+from django.utils import timezone
+
 from openedx.core.djangoapps.content.course_overviews.models import CourseOverview
 
 
-def is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_run_id, compare_date, entitlement):
+def is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_run_id, entitlement, compare_date=timezone.now()):
     """
     Checks that the current run meets the following criteria for an entitlement
 
@@ -16,16 +18,16 @@ def is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_run_id, compare_date, entitlem
         entitlement: The Entitlement that we are checking against.
 
     Returns:
-        bool: True is the Course Run is fullfillable for the CourseEntitlement.
+        bool: True if the Course Run is fullfillable for the CourseEntitlement.
     """
     course_overview = CourseOverview.get_from_id(course_run_id)
 
-    # Only courses that have not ended will be displayed
+    # Verify that the course is still running
     run_start = course_overview.start
     run_end = course_overview.end
     is_running = run_start and (not run_end or (run_end and (run_end > compare_date)))
 
-    # Only courses that can currently be enrolled in will be displayed
+    # Verify that the course run can currently be enrolled
     enrollment_start = course_overview.enrollment_start
     enrollment_end = course_overview.enrollment_end
     can_enroll = (
@@ -33,7 +35,7 @@ def is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_run_id, compare_date, entitlem
         and (not enrollment_end or enrollment_end > compare_date)
     )
 
-    # Ensure the course is upgradeable and the mode matches the entitlement's mode.
+    # Ensure the course run is upgradeable and the mode matches the entitlement's mode
     unexpired_paid_modes = [mode.slug for mode in CourseMode.paid_modes_for_course(course_run_id)]
     can_upgrade = unexpired_paid_modes and entitlement.mode in unexpired_paid_modes
 
diff --git a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py
index 8b0943fcaa..3743697ed7 100644
--- a/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py
+++ b/openedx/core/djangoapps/catalog/utils.py
@@ -321,11 +321,11 @@ def get_fulfillable_course_runs_for_entitlement(entitlement, course_runs):
     enrollable_sessions = []
 
     # Only show published course runs that can still be enrolled and upgraded
-    now = datetime.datetime.now(UTC)
+    search_time = datetime.datetime.now(UTC)
     for course_run in course_runs:
         course_id = CourseKey.from_string(course_run.get('key'))
         is_enrolled = CourseEnrollment.is_enrolled(entitlement.user, str(course_id))
-        if is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_id, now, entitlement) and not is_enrolled:
+        if is_course_run_entitlement_fullfillable(course_id, entitlement, search_time) and not is_enrolled:
             enrollable_sessions.append(course_run)
 
     enrollable_sessions.sort(key=lambda session: session.get('start'))