diff --git a/ax_init_standard_project.m4 b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
index 4569170..24ae88f 100644
--- a/ax_init_standard_project.m4
+++ b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_INIT_STANDARD_PROJECT], [
   AX_SUBST(DISTRO)
   BUILD_NUMBER=${BUILD_NUMBER:-1}
   AX_SUBST(BUILD_NUMBER)
-  BUILD_DATE=$(date -R)
+  BUILD_DATE=$(date +"%Y-%m-%d %H:%M %Z")
   AX_SUBST(BUILD_DATE)
   if test -f "${PROJECT_NAME}-logo.png"; then
      PROJECT_LOGO="${PROJECT_NAME}-logo.png"