diff --git a/module/program/control.php b/module/program/control.php
index 96f258ba11..b2ac179ed0 100644
--- a/module/program/control.php
+++ b/module/program/control.php
@@ -203,9 +203,7 @@ class program extends control
             return $this->send(array('result' => 'success', 'message' => $this->lang->saveSuccess, 'locate' => inLink('browse')));
         }
 
-        $program            = $this->program->getByID($programID);
-        $program->realBegan = helper::isZeroDate($program->realBegan) ? '' : $program->realBegan;
-
+        $program       = $this->program->getByID($programID);
         $parentProgram = $program->parent ? $this->program->getByID($program->parent) : '';
         $parents       = $this->program->getParentPairs();
 
diff --git a/module/program/view/edit.html.php b/module/program/view/edit.html.php
index 06fe71d320..5730dd37be 100644
--- a/module/program/view/edit.html.php
+++ b/module/program/view/edit.html.php
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@
         </tr>
         <tr>
           <th><?php echo $lang->project->realBegan;?></th>
-          <td><?php echo html::input('realBegan', $program->realBegan, "class='form-control form-date'");?></td><td></td><td></td>
+          <td><?php echo html::input('realBegan', helper::isZeroDate($program->realBegan) ? '' : $program->realBegan, "class='form-control form-date'");?></td><td></td>
         </tr>
         <tr>
           <th><?php echo $lang->program->desc;?></th>