diff --git a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/archiver/AbstractUnArchiver.java b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/archiver/AbstractUnArchiver.java
index cc493c740..835763ce1 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/archiver/AbstractUnArchiver.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/plexus/archiver/AbstractUnArchiver.java
@@ -373,7 +373,11 @@ else if ( isDirectory )
                 }
             }
 
-            targetFileName.setLastModified( entryDate.getTime() );
+            final long millis = entryDate.getTime();
+            if ( millis >= 0 )
+            {
+                targetFileName.setLastModified( millis );
+            }
 
             if ( !isIgnorePermissions() && mode != null && !isDirectory )
             {