diff --git a/go/store/val/codec.go b/go/store/val/codec.go
index 1ff0746de3..e5760ad718 100644
--- a/go/store/val/codec.go
+++ b/go/store/val/codec.go
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 	"unsafe"
 
+	"github.com/dolthub/go-mysql-server/sql/types"
 	querypb "github.com/dolthub/vitess/go/vt/proto/query"
 	"github.com/shopspring/decimal"
 
@@ -577,10 +578,14 @@ func readDate(val []byte) (date time.Time) {
 
 func writeDate(buf []byte, val time.Time) {
 	expectSize(buf, dateSize)
-	t := uint32(val.Year() << yearShift)
-	t += uint32(val.Month() << monthShift)
-	t += uint32(val.Day())
-	writeUint32(buf, t)
+	if val.Equal(types.ZeroTime) {
+		writeUint32(buf, 0)
+	} else {
+		t := uint32(val.Year() << yearShift)
+		t += uint32(val.Month() << monthShift)
+		t += uint32(val.Day())
+		writeUint32(buf, t)
+	}
 }
 
 func compareDate(l, r time.Time) int {