diff --git a/commit.c b/commit.c
index f4e4eea..42b44bb 100644
--- a/commit.c
+++ b/commit.c
@@ -442,7 +442,8 @@
 		ret += sprintf(buf + ret, "Date:   %s\n", show_date(time, tz));
 		break;
 	case CMIT_FMT_EMAIL:
-		ret += sprintf(buf + ret, "Date: %s\n", show_date(time, tz));
+		ret += sprintf(buf + ret, "Date: %s\n",
+			       show_rfc2822_date(time, tz));
 		break;
 	case CMIT_FMT_FULLER:
 		ret += sprintf(buf + ret, "%sDate: %s\n", what, show_date(time, tz));