diff --git a/src/var.c b/src/var.c
index 78bec6e4..bcd24d8b 100644
--- a/src/var.c
+++ b/src/var.c
@@ -170,10 +170,11 @@ static int latitude_func(int do_set, Value *val)
 static int trig_date_func(int do_set, Value *val)
 {
     UNUSED(do_set);
-    val->type = DATE_TYPE;
     if (!LastTrigValid) {
+        val->type = INT_TYPE;
 	val->v.val = 0;
     } else {
+        val->type = DATE_TYPE;
 	val->v.val = LastTriggerDate;
     }
     return OK;
diff --git a/tests/test.cmp b/tests/test.cmp
index ee472bea..bb14e395 100644
--- a/tests/test.cmp
+++ b/tests/test.cmp
@@ -2766,7 +2766,7 @@ Variable  Value
      $SubsIndent  0           [0, 132]
          $Sunday  "Sunday"
     $SuppressLRM  0           [0, 1]
-              $T  1990-01-01
+              $T  0
              $Td  -1
        $Thursday  "Thursday"
         $TimeSep  ":"