diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/kobo/books.py b/src/calibre/devices/kobo/books.py
index 1d9ccb9a0e..48033b3522 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/kobo/books.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/kobo/books.py
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ __copyright__ = '2010, Timothy Legge <timlegge at gmail.com>'
 import os
 import time
 
+from calibre.utils.date import parse_date
 from calibre.devices.usbms.books import Book as Book_
 
 class Book(Book_):
@@ -32,9 +33,13 @@ class Book(Book_):
                 self.datetime = time.strptime(date, "%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S.%f")
             except:
                 try:
-                    self.datetime = time.gmtime(os.path.getctime(self.path))
+                    self.datetime = parse_date(date,
+                            assume_utc=True).timetuple()
                 except:
-                    self.datetime = time.gmtime()
+                    try:
+                        self.datetime = time.gmtime(os.path.getctime(self.path))
+                    except:
+                        self.datetime = time.gmtime()
         else:
             try:
                 self.datetime = time.gmtime(os.path.getctime(self.path))