diff --git a/publication_date.module b/publication_date.module
index 0287bd7..0b8965c 100755
--- a/publication_date.module
+++ b/publication_date.module
@@ -20,11 +20,8 @@ function publication_date_nodeapi(&$node, $op, $a3 = NULL, $a4 = NULL) {
 
       // we have to manage the 'old nodes', i.e nodes that have been published BEFORE the activation
       // of this module.
-      if (!$node->published_at) {
-        $row = db_fetch_array(db_query("SELECT created, status FROM {node} WHERE nid = %d", $node->nid));
-        if ($row && $row['status'] == 1) {
-          $node->published_at = $row['created'];
-        }
+      if (!$node->published_at && $node->status == 1 ) {
+        $node->published_at = $node->created;
       }
       break;
     case 'insert':