diff --git a/builtin-commit.c b/builtin-commit.c
index 09d2840..40e5805 100644
--- a/builtin-commit.c
+++ b/builtin-commit.c
@@ -396,7 +396,8 @@ static void determine_author_info(void)
 
 		name = xstrndup(a + 8, lb - (a + 8));
 		email = xstrndup(lb + 2, rb - (lb + 2));
-		date = xstrndup(rb + 2, eol - (rb + 2));
+		if (!date)
+			date = xstrndup(rb + 2, eol - (rb + 2));
 	}
 
 	if (force_author) {