diff --git a/sys/conf/newvers.sh b/sys/conf/newvers.sh
index c594724d814..d5287c7b992 100644
--- a/sys/conf/newvers.sh
+++ b/sys/conf/newvers.sh
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ u=${USER:-root}
 d=$(pwd)
 h=${HOSTNAME:-$(hostname)}
 if [ -n "$SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH" ]; then
-	if ! t=$(date -r $SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH 2>/dev/null); then
+	if ! t=$(date -d @$SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH 2>/dev/null); then
 		echo "Invalid SOURCE_DATE_EPOCH" >&2
 		exit 1
 	fi