diff --git a/recipes/economist.recipe b/recipes/economist.recipe
index 15cb026a6c..3ecf3082f5 100644
--- a/recipes/economist.recipe
+++ b/recipes/economist.recipe
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ class Economist(BasicNewsRecipe):
         return br
 
     def publication_date(self):
+        edition_date = self.recipe_specific_options.get('date')
         if edition_date:
             return parse_only_date(edition_date, as_utc=False)
         url = self.browser.open("https://www.economist.com/printedition").geturl()
@@ -424,6 +425,7 @@ class Economist(BasicNewsRecipe):
         return raw
     def parse_index_from_printedition(self):
         # return self.economist_test_article()
+        edition_date = self.recipe_specific_options.get('date')
         if edition_date:
             url = 'https://www.economist.com/weeklyedition/' + edition_date
             self.timefmt = ' [' + edition_date + ']'