diff --git a/dev/INSTALL b/dev/INSTALL
index 3aad0c1c3..be3eef109 100644
--- a/dev/INSTALL
+++ b/dev/INSTALL
@@ -123,8 +123,7 @@ process should be used:
     out why.
 
  6. Edit ``.../ietf/__init__.py`` in the new patched release to indicate the patch
-    version in the ``__patch__`` string and current date and time in the ``__date__``
-    string.
+    version in the ``__patch__`` string.
 
  7. Change the 'web' symlink, reload etc. as described in
     `General Instructions for Deployment of a New Release`_ .
diff --git a/ietf/api/tests.py b/ietf/api/tests.py
index bf46d015c..66ce09133 100644
--- a/ietf/api/tests.py
+++ b/ietf/api/tests.py
@@ -354,7 +354,6 @@ class CustomApiTests(TestCase):
         r = self.client.get(url)
         data = r.json()
         self.assertEqual(data['version'], ietf.__version__+ietf.__patch__)
-        self.assertIn(data['date'], ietf.__date__)
 
     def test_api_appauth(self):
         url = urlreverse('ietf.api.views.app_auth')
diff --git a/ietf/api/views.py b/ietf/api/views.py
index 2d5176700..17ec1bdfe 100644
--- a/ietf/api/views.py
+++ b/ietf/api/views.py
@@ -209,7 +209,6 @@ def version(request):
     return HttpResponse(
             json.dumps({
                         'version': ietf.__version__+ietf.__patch__,
-                        'date': ietf.__date__[7:-2],
                         'dumptime': dumptime,
                     }),
                 content_type='application/json',