--- date/date/date_elements.inc.old       2008-12-16 15:31:18.000000000 +0100
+++ date/date/date_elements.inc   2008-12-16 15:25:13.000000000 +0100
@@ -43,6 +43,10 @@ function _date_field_validate($op, &$nod
  */
 function _date_field_update($op, &$node, $field, &$items, $teaser, $page) {
   $field_name = $field['field_name'];
+  if (empty($items)) {
+    $node->$field_name = array();
+    return;
+  }

   $format = $field['type'] == DATE_ISO ? DATE_FORMAT_ISO : DATE_FORMAT_UNIX;
   $timezone = date_get_timezone($field['tz_handling'], array_key_exists('timezone', $items[0]) ? $items[0]['timezone'] : '');
@@ -75,7 +79,7 @@ function _date_field_update($op, &$node,
       }
     }
   }
-  $node->$field['field_name'] = $items;
+  $node->$field_name = $items;
 }

 /**