diff --git a/ckan/tests/legacy/lib/test_helpers.py b/ckan/tests/legacy/lib/test_helpers.py
index b0bfb9ba20b..c8a296970d3 100644
--- a/ckan/tests/legacy/lib/test_helpers.py
+++ b/ckan/tests/legacy/lib/test_helpers.py
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ def test_render_datetime_blank(self):
         res = h.render_datetime(None)
         assert_equal(res, '')
 
+    def test_render_datetime_year_before_1900(self):
+        res = h.render_datetime('1875-04-13T20:40:20.123456', date_format='%Y')
+        assert_equal(res, '1875')
+
     def test_datetime_to_date_str(self):
         res = datetime.datetime(2008, 4, 13, 20, 40, 20, 123456).isoformat()
         assert_equal(res, '2008-04-13T20:40:20.123456')