diff --git a/ident.c b/ident.c
index 9e2438826d..1c4adb0a9a 100644
--- a/ident.c
+++ b/ident.c
@@ -217,8 +217,10 @@ const char *fmt_ident(const char *name, const char *email,
 	}
 
 	strcpy(date, git_default_date);
-	if (!name_addr_only && date_str)
-		parse_date(date_str, date, sizeof(date));
+	if (!name_addr_only && date_str && date_str[0]) {
+		if (parse_date(date_str, date, sizeof(date)) < 0)
+			die("invalid date format: %s", date_str);
+	}
 
 	i = copy(buffer, sizeof(buffer), 0, name);
 	i = add_raw(buffer, sizeof(buffer), i, " <");
diff --git a/t/t7501-commit.sh b/t/t7501-commit.sh
index 8297cb4f1e..8980738c75 100755
--- a/t/t7501-commit.sh
+++ b/t/t7501-commit.sh
@@ -230,6 +230,10 @@ test_expect_success 'amend commit to fix date' '
 
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'commit complains about bogus date' '
+	test_must_fail git commit --amend --date=10.11.2010
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'sign off (1)' '
 
 	echo 1 >positive &&