diff --git a/node_expire.nodeapi.inc b/node_expire.nodeapi.inc
index 31738f1..81bcccd 100644
--- a/node_expire.nodeapi.inc
+++ b/node_expire.nodeapi.inc
@@ -85,10 +85,10 @@ function _node_expire_node_validate(&$ntype, $node) {
   elseif (variable_get('node_expire_past_date_allowed', 0) == 0 && $expire <= REQUEST_TIME) {
     form_set_error('expire_date', t("You can't expire a node in the past!"));
   }
-  elseif (!empty($ntype['max']) and $expire > strtotime($ntype['max'], $node->created)) {
+  elseif (!empty($ntype['max']) and $expire > strtotime($ntype['max'])) {
     form_set_error('expire_date', t('It must expire before %date.',
     array(
-      '%date' => format_date(strtotime($ntype['max'], $node->created), 'custom', NODE_EXPIRE_FORMAT),
+      '%date' => format_date(strtotime($ntype['max']), 'custom', NODE_EXPIRE_FORMAT),
     )));
   }
 }