diff --git a/pelican/writers.py b/pelican/writers.py
index 347fa64e..b8183333 100644
--- a/pelican/writers.py
+++ b/pelican/writers.py
@@ -55,7 +55,9 @@ class Writer(object):
             categories=item.tags if hasattr(item, 'tags') else None,
             author_name=getattr(item, 'author', ''),
             pubdate=set_date_tzinfo(
-                item.modified if hasattr(item, 'modified') else item.date,
+                item.date, self.settings.get('TIMEZONE', None)),
+            pubdate=set_date_tzinfo(
+                item.modified if hasattr(item, 'modified') else None,
                 self.settings.get('TIMEZONE', None)))
 
     def _open_w(self, filename, encoding, override=False):