diff --git a/src/engine/Transaction.c b/src/engine/Transaction.c
index deb43f9296..95d0cfb10e 100644
--- a/src/engine/Transaction.c
+++ b/src/engine/Transaction.c
@@ -2351,6 +2351,7 @@ GDate
 xaccTransGetDatePostedGDate (const Transaction *trans)
 {
     GDate result;
+    g_date_clear (&result, 1);
     if (trans)
     {
         /* Can we look up this value in the kvp slot? If yes, use it
@@ -2363,10 +2364,6 @@ xaccTransGetDatePostedGDate (const Transaction *trans)
 	if (! g_date_valid (&result))
             result = timespec_to_gdate(xaccTransRetDatePostedTS(trans));
     }
-    else
-    {
-        g_date_clear(&result, 1);
-    }
     return result;
 }