diff --git a/src/calibre/devices/usbms/books.py b/src/calibre/devices/usbms/books.py
index 59f098d421..879b377b1b 100644
--- a/src/calibre/devices/usbms/books.py
+++ b/src/calibre/devices/usbms/books.py
@@ -38,8 +38,10 @@ class Book(MetaInformation):
             self.lpath = lpath
         self.mime = mime_type_ext(path_to_ext(lpath))
         self.size = size # will be set later if None
-        self.datetime = time.gmtime()
-
+        try:
+            self.datetime = time.gmtime(os.path.getctime(self.path))
+        except:
+            self.datetime = time.gmtime()
         if other:
             self.smart_update(other)