diff --git a/pelican/readers.py b/pelican/readers.py
index 85147e3e..36653306 100644
--- a/pelican/readers.py
+++ b/pelican/readers.py
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ from pelican.utils import get_date, pelican_open, FileStampDataCacher, SafeDatet
 
 METADATA_PROCESSORS = {
     'tags': lambda x, y: [Tag(tag, y) for tag in x.split(',')],
-    'date': lambda x, y: get_date(x),
+    'date': lambda x, y: get_date(x.replace('_', ' ')),
     'modified': lambda x, y: get_date(x),
     'status': lambda x, y: x.strip(),
     'category': Category,