diff --git a/mtm-ddwipe b/mtm-ddwipe
index f349a28..4494b9f 100755
--- a/mtm-ddwipe
+++ b/mtm-ddwipe
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 declare -r DEV="${1}"
 declare STARTDATE=""
+declare STARTDATESTRING=""
 
 show_help() {
 	echo "ddwipe dev (/dev/sdX)"
@@ -37,7 +38,8 @@ confirm_wipe() {
 }
 
 wipe_dev() {
-	STARTDATE="$(date)"
+	STARTDATE=$(date +%s)
+	STARTDATESTRING="$(date)"
 	echo "Begin wiping device ${1}"
 	echo ""
 	echo "Start date :"
@@ -67,7 +69,7 @@ wipe_dev() {
 print_time() {
 	echo ""
 	echo "Start date :"
-	echo "${STARTDATE}"
+	echo "${STARTDATESTRING}"
 	
 	ENDDATE=$(date +%s)
 	echo ""
@@ -83,6 +85,5 @@ print_time() {
 check_args "${DEV}"
 check_dev_exist "${DEV}"
 confirm_wipe "${DEV}"
-STARTDATE=$(date +%s)
 wipe_dev "${DEV}"
 print_time