diff --git a/lib/split/experiment.rb b/lib/split/experiment.rb
index 3534cf92..c6275df5 100644
--- a/lib/split/experiment.rb
+++ b/lib/split/experiment.rb
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def reset_winner
 
     def start_time
       t = Split.redis.hget(:experiment_start_times, @name)
-      Time.parse(t) if t
+      return DateTime.strptime(t, '%m/%d/%Y')
     end
 
     def next_alternative