diff --git a/docs/dater.py b/docs/dater.py
index 04855956beb..f9fb0c1da6e 100644
--- a/docs/dater.py
+++ b/docs/dater.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import datetime as dt
 import re
 import subprocess
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
@@ -18,24 +17,23 @@
 VERSION_TITLE_REGEX = re.compile(r"^(\d+\.\d+\.\d+)\n-+\n")
 
 
-def get_date_for(git_version: str) -> dt.datetime | None:
+def get_date_for(git_version: str) -> str | None:
     cmd = ["git", "log", "-1", "--format=%ai", git_version]
     try:
         out = subprocess.check_output(
             cmd, stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL, text=True, encoding="utf-8"
         )
-        ts = out.strip()
-        return dt.datetime.fromisoformat(ts)
     except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
         return None
+    return out.split()[0]
 
 
 def add_date(app: Sphinx, doc_name: str, source: list[str]) -> None:
     if DOC_NAME_REGEX.match(doc_name) and (m := VERSION_TITLE_REGEX.match(source[0])):
         old_title = m.group(1)
 
-        if tag_datetime := get_date_for(old_title):
-            new_title = f"{old_title} ({tag_datetime:%Y-%m-%d})"
+        if tag_date := get_date_for(old_title):
+            new_title = f"{old_title} ({tag_date})"
         else:
             new_title = f"{old_title} (unreleased)"