diff --git a/date.c b/date.c
index a74ed86422..1a4eb87b01 100644
--- a/date.c
+++ b/date.c
@@ -682,10 +682,8 @@ static void date_am(struct tm *tm, int *num)
 
 static void date_never(struct tm *tm, int *num)
 {
-	tm->tm_mon = tm->tm_wday = tm->tm_yday
-		= tm->tm_hour = tm->tm_min = tm->tm_sec = 0;
-	tm->tm_year = 70;
-	tm->tm_mday = 1;
+	time_t n = 0;
+	localtime_r(&n, tm);
 }
 
 static const struct special {