diff --git a/app/controllers/files_controller.rb b/app/controllers/files_controller.rb
index e0ad6c5e5..2bdd88566 100644
--- a/app/controllers/files_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/files_controller.rb
@@ -210,6 +210,7 @@ class FilesController < ApplicationController
 
     is_unified_setting = params[:is_unified_setting]
     publish_time = params[:publish_time]
+    publish_time = format_time(Time.parse(publish_time)) unless publish_time.blank?
     is_public = params[:is_public]
     course_group_publish_times = params[:course_group_publish_times] || []