diff --git a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
index d0452c428..345c5d10d 100644
--- a/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
+++ b/lib/pleroma/web/common_api/utils.ex
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ def to_masto_date(%NaiveDateTime{} = date) do
     # It supports negative years for example.
     # ISO8601 only supports years before 1583 with mutual agreement
     if date.year < 1583 do
-      ""
+      "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
     else
       date
       |> NaiveDateTime.to_iso8601()
@@ -344,11 +344,11 @@ def to_masto_date(date) when is_binary(date) do
     with {:ok, date} <- NaiveDateTime.from_iso8601(date) do
       to_masto_date(date)
     else
-      _ -> ""
+      _ -> "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
     end
   end
 
-  def to_masto_date(_), do: ""
+  def to_masto_date(_), do: "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
 
   defp shortname(name) do
     with max_length when max_length > 0 <-
diff --git a/test/pleroma/web/common_api/utils_test.exs b/test/pleroma/web/common_api/utils_test.exs
index 40137a10e..f56d21c70 100644
--- a/test/pleroma/web/common_api/utils_test.exs
+++ b/test/pleroma/web/common_api/utils_test.exs
@@ -495,16 +495,16 @@ test "removes microseconds from date (String)" do
       assert Utils.to_masto_date("2015-01-23T23:50:07.123Z") == "2015-01-23T23:50:07.000Z"
     end
 
-    test "returns empty string when date invalid" do
-      assert Utils.to_masto_date("2015-01?23T23:50:07.123Z") == ""
+    test "returns unix epoch when date invalid" do
+      assert Utils.to_masto_date("2015-01?23T23:50:07.123Z") == "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
     end
 
-    test "returns empty string when date is before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar" do
-      assert Utils.to_masto_date("0621-01-01T00:00:00Z") == ""
+    test "returns unix epoch when date is before the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar" do
+      assert Utils.to_masto_date("0621-01-01T00:00:00Z") == "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
     end
 
-    test "returns empty string when date is BCE" do
-      assert Utils.to_masto_date("-420-01-01T00:00:00Z") == ""
+    test "returns unix epoch when date is BCE" do
+      assert Utils.to_masto_date("-0420-01-01T00:00:00Z") == "1970-01-01T00:00:00Z"
     end
   end