diff --git a/distrib/scripts/pre-flight.sh b/distrib/scripts/pre-flight.sh
index 5074f8ec8f..f2482948f6 100755
--- a/distrib/scripts/pre-flight.sh
+++ b/distrib/scripts/pre-flight.sh
@@ -136,6 +136,6 @@ md5sum ${FTPDIR}/wx* > ${FTPDIR}/MD5SUM
 
 ## make sure updated at is really last
 sleep 10
-echo cvs checkout done at  date -u > ${FTPDIR}/updated_at.txt
+echo cvs checkout done at  `date -u` > ${FTPDIR}/updated_at.txt
        
 echo "Delivery complete. Flying."