diff --git a/admin/duplicate-post.php b/admin/duplicate-post.php
index 971fd5d..4acc287 100644
--- a/admin/duplicate-post.php
+++ b/admin/duplicate-post.php
@@ -1169,10 +1169,14 @@ function duplicate_post_create_duplicate($post_to_dup, $status = '', $parent_id
 			$new_post["ID"] = $to_post_id;
 		}
 
-		if($this->get_option('duplicate_post_copydate') == 1){
-			$new_post['post_date'] = $new_post_date =  $post_to_dup->post_date ;
-			$new_post['post_date_gmt'] = get_gmt_from_date($new_post_date);
-		}
+                if($this->get_option('duplicate_post_copydate') == 1 && empty( $to_post_id ) ){
+                        $new_post['post_date'] = $new_post_date =  $post_to_dup->post_date ;
+                        $new_post['post_date_gmt'] = get_gmt_from_date($new_post_date);
+                } else if( ! empty( $to_post_id ) ) {
+                        // We are merging back, do not override publish date
+                        $new_post['post_date'] = $new_post_date =  $to_post->post_date ;
+                        $new_post['post_date_gmt'] = get_gmt_from_date($new_post_date);
+                }
 
 		$new_post_id = wp_insert_post($new_post);
 		delete_post_meta($new_post_id, '_dp_original_backup');
@@ -1226,4 +1230,4 @@ function save_to_original( $post_id ){
 	}
 
 
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+}