diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index aa76ffab6..75e7cadf1 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ AC_CONFIG_MACRO_DIR([m4])
 
 # Configuration Date
 if test -n ${SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH}; then
-    AC_SUBST([CONFIG_DATE]) CONFIG_DATE="`date -u -d "@${SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH}"`"
+    AC_SUBST([CONFIG_DATE]) CONFIG_DATE="`date -u -d "${SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH}"`"
 else
     AC_SUBST([CONFIG_DATE]) CONFIG_DATE="`date`"
 fi