diff --git a/src/mod/applications/mod_voicemail/mod_voicemail.c b/src/mod/applications/mod_voicemail/mod_voicemail.c
index 5f5335e696..0e3f597e1f 100644
--- a/src/mod/applications/mod_voicemail/mod_voicemail.c
+++ b/src/mod/applications/mod_voicemail/mod_voicemail.c
@@ -2225,7 +2225,7 @@ static switch_status_t deliver_vm(vm_profile_t *profile,
 		
 		if(!switch_strlen_zero(vm_timezone)) {
 			char tz_date[80] = "";
-			if ((switch_strftime_tz(vm_timezone, profile->date_fmt, tz_date, sizeof(tz_date)) == SWITCH_STATUS_SUCCESS) && !switch_strlen_zero(tz_date)) {
+			if ((switch_strftime_tz(vm_timezone, profile->date_fmt, tz_date, sizeof(tz_date)) == SWITCH_STATUS_SUCCESS) && !switch_strlen_zero_buf(tz_date)) {
 				switch_event_add_header_string(params, SWITCH_STACK_BOTTOM, "voicemail_time", tz_date);
 			} else {
 				switch_event_add_header_string(params, SWITCH_STACK_BOTTOM, "voicemail_time", date);