diff --git a/PVE/QemuServer.pm b/PVE/QemuServer.pm
index b4b15801..5ef92a3f 100644
--- a/PVE/QemuServer.pm
+++ b/PVE/QemuServer.pm
@@ -3854,7 +3854,7 @@ sub config_to_command {
 	push @$machineFlags, "type=${machine_type}";
     }
 
-    if ($conf->{startdate}) {
+    if (($conf->{startdate}) && ($conf->{startdate} ne 'now')) {
 	push @$rtcFlags, "base=$conf->{startdate}";
     } elsif ($useLocaltime) {
 	push @$rtcFlags, 'base=localtime';