The title compound, C13H18N2O4, crystallizes as discrete molecules associated as N-H...O hydrogen-bonded dimers disposed about a crystallographic inversion centre. The structure is the first solid-state structure for a 3-acetylpyridone without C-4 to C-6 substituents. The amide subsituent at C-3 is coplanar with the pyridone ring, while the tert-butyl ester group is orthogonal to the pyridine ring. The amide and ester carbonyl O atoms are not involved in strong hydrogen bonding with only a number of intramolecular and intermolecular C-H...O interactions apparent in the structure.