diff --git a/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py b/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py
index 8f02bf16b..ff1b45ebd 100644
--- a/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py
+++ b/gramps/plugins/lib/libgedcom.py
@@ -729,6 +729,7 @@ class GedcomDateParser(DateParser):
         'may' : 5,  'jun' : 6,  'jul' : 7,  'aug' : 8,
         'sep' : 9,  'oct' : 10, 'nov' : 11, 'dec' : 12,
         }
+    fmt = "%m/%d/%y"
 
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------
 #