diff --git a/channels/chan_skinny.c b/channels/chan_skinny.c
index 6a693df022..a05730de93 100644
--- a/channels/chan_skinny.c
+++ b/channels/chan_skinny.c
@@ -3198,7 +3198,7 @@ static int handle_register_message(struct skinny_req *req, struct skinnysession
 	req->data.regack.res[0] = '0';
 	req->data.regack.res[1] = '\0';
 	req->data.regack.keepAlive = htolel(keep_alive);
-	ast_copy_string(req->data.regack.dateTemplate, date_format, sizeof(req->data.regack.dateTemplate));
+	memcpy(req->data.regack.dateTemplate, date_format, sizeof(req->data.regack.dateTemplate));
 	req->data.regack.res2[0] = '0';
 	req->data.regack.res2[1] = '\0';
 	req->data.regack.secondaryKeepAlive = htolel(keep_alive);
@@ -5030,7 +5030,7 @@ static int reload_config(void)
 			}
 			ast_copy_string(regcontext, v->value, sizeof(regcontext));
 		} else if (!strcasecmp(v->name, "dateformat")) {
-			ast_copy_string(date_format, v->value, sizeof(date_format));
+			memcpy(date_format, v->value, sizeof(date_format));
 		} else if (!strcasecmp(v->name, "allow")) {
 			ast_parse_allow_disallow(&default_prefs, &default_capability, v->value, 1);
 		} else if (!strcasecmp(v->name, "disallow")) {
diff --git a/configs/skinny.conf.sample b/configs/skinny.conf.sample
index 8d199dcb39..bc4c51505c 100644
--- a/configs/skinny.conf.sample
+++ b/configs/skinny.conf.sample
@@ -4,7 +4,9 @@
 [general]
 bindaddr=0.0.0.0	; Address to bind to
 bindport=2000		; Port to bind to, default tcp/2000
-dateformat=M-D-Y	; M,D,Y in any order (5 chars max)
+dateformat=M-D-Y	; M,D,Y in any order (6 chars max)
+			; "A" may also be used, but it must be at the end.
+			; Use M for month, D for day, Y for year, A for 12-hour time.
 keepalive=120
 
 ;vmexten=8500		; Systemwide voicemailmain pilot number