diff --git a/core/actions/datacite/action.ts b/core/actions/datacite/action.ts
index 4ff128f3ce..65d84821c2 100644
--- a/core/actions/datacite/action.ts
+++ b/core/actions/datacite/action.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ export const action = defineAction({
 			title: z.string(),
 			url: z.string(),
 			publisher: z.string(),
-			publicationDate: z.date(),
+			publicationDate: z.coerce.date(),
 			creator: z.string(),
 			creatorName: z.string(),
 		}),
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ export const action = defineAction({
 			title: z.string(),
 			url: z.string(),
 			publisher: z.string(),
-			publicationDate: z.date(),
+			publicationDate: z.coerce.date(),
 			creator: z.string(),
 			creatorName: z.string(),
 		}),
diff --git a/core/app/components/forms/elements/DateElement.tsx b/core/app/components/forms/elements/DateElement.tsx
index f6b4dd6be2..c8c86df53e 100644
--- a/core/app/components/forms/elements/DateElement.tsx
+++ b/core/app/components/forms/elements/DateElement.tsx
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export const DateElement = ({ slug, label, config }: ElementProps<InputComponent
 					<FormLabel>{label}</FormLabel>
 					<DatePicker
 						disabled={!isEnabled}
-						date={field.value ?? new Date()}
+						date={field.value}
 						setDate={(date) => field.onChange(date)}
 					/>
 					<FormDescription>{config.help}</FormDescription>