diff --git a/lib/sequel/database/misc.rb b/lib/sequel/database/misc.rb
index cdead1e958..3d82c71717 100644
--- a/lib/sequel/database/misc.rb
+++ b/lib/sequel/database/misc.rb
@@ -169,7 +169,11 @@ def timezone
     # from the databases's timezone or the default database timezone if
     # the database does not have a timezone.
     def to_application_timestamp(v)
-      Sequel.convert_timestamp(v, timezone)
+      if v.is_a? String && v.length >= 19
+        Time.utc(v[0,4], v[5,7], v[8,10], v[11,13], v[14,16], v[17,19])
+      else
+        Sequel.convert_timestamp(v, timezone)
+      end
     end
 
     # Typecast the value to the given column_type. Calls