diff --git a/src/highdicom/base.py b/src/highdicom/base.py
index 93f3680a5..5f610a738 100644
--- a/src/highdicom/base.py
+++ b/src/highdicom/base.py
@@ -293,11 +293,15 @@ def __init__(
                     "'series_time' may not be specified without "
                     "'series_date'."
                 )
-            if content_time is not None:
-                if series_time > content_time:
-                    raise ValueError(
-                        "'series_time' must not be later than content time."
-                    )
+            if (
+                content_time is not None and
+                content_date is not None and
+                series_date == content_date and
+                series_time > content_time
+            ):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    "'series_time' must not be later than content time."
+                )
             self.SeriesTime = series_time
 
         if content_qualification is not None:
diff --git a/tests/test_base.py b/tests/test_base.py
index 3f400a928..1e2d5c36c 100644
--- a/tests/test_base.py
+++ b/tests/test_base.py
@@ -99,12 +99,59 @@ def test_series_datetime(self):
             manufacturer_model_name='foo-bar',
             software_versions='v1.0.0',
             transfer_syntax_uid=ExplicitVRLittleEndian,
-            series_date=datetime.date(2000, 12, 1),
+            content_date=datetime.date(2024, 6, 15),
+            content_time=datetime.time(14, 0, 0),
+            series_date=datetime.date(2024, 6, 15),
             series_time=datetime.time(12, 34, 56),
         )
         assert hasattr(instance, 'SeriesDate')
         assert hasattr(instance, 'SeriesTime')
 
+    def test_series_datetime_earlier_date(self):
+        # series_time > content_time is fine when series_date < content_date
+        instance = SOPClass(
+            study_instance_uid=UID(),
+            series_instance_uid=UID(),
+            series_number=1,
+            sop_instance_uid=UID(),
+            sop_class_uid='1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.88.33',
+            instance_number=1,
+            modality='SR',
+            manufacturer='highdicom',
+            manufacturer_model_name='foo-bar',
+            software_versions='v1.0.0',
+            transfer_syntax_uid=ExplicitVRLittleEndian,
+            content_date=datetime.date(2024, 6, 15),
+            content_time=datetime.time(8, 0, 0),
+            series_date=datetime.date(2024, 6, 14),
+            series_time=datetime.time(23, 59, 59),
+        )
+        assert hasattr(instance, 'SeriesDate')
+        assert hasattr(instance, 'SeriesTime')
+
+    def test_series_time_after_content_same_date(self):
+        msg = (
+            "'series_time' must not be later than content time."
+        )
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError, match=msg):
+            SOPClass(
+                study_instance_uid=UID(),
+                series_instance_uid=UID(),
+                series_number=1,
+                sop_instance_uid=UID(),
+                sop_class_uid='1.2.840.10008.5.1.4.1.1.88.33',
+                instance_number=1,
+                modality='SR',
+                manufacturer='highdicom',
+                manufacturer_model_name='foo-bar',
+                software_versions='v1.0.0',
+                transfer_syntax_uid=ExplicitVRLittleEndian,
+                content_date=datetime.date(2024, 6, 15),
+                content_time=datetime.time(8, 0, 0),
+                series_date=datetime.date(2024, 6, 15),
+                series_time=datetime.time(12, 34, 56),
+            )
+
     def test_series_date_without_time(self):
         msg = (
             "'series_time' may not be specified without "