diff --git a/sites/all/modules/contrib/node_import/node_import.inc b/sites/all/modules/contrib/node_import/node_import.inc
index 959cbe9..dc45777 100644
--- a/sites/all/modules/contrib/node_import/node_import.inc
+++ b/sites/all/modules/contrib/node_import/node_import.inc
@@ -1109,6 +1115,11 @@ function node_import_check_date(&$value, $field, $options, $preview) {
     return TRUE;
   }
 
+  if (strtotime($value) && date_is_valid(strtotime($value), DATE_UNIX)) {
+    $value = date_convert(strtotime($value), DATE_UNIX, $output_format, $timezone);
+    return TRUE;
+  }
+
   module_load_include('inc', 'date_api', 'date_api_elements');
 
   if (($date = date_convert_from_custom($value, $input_format))) {