diff --git a/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/analyzecommit.py b/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/analyzecommit.py
index 885e093539..285ec6c780 100644
--- a/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/analyzecommit.py
+++ b/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/analyzecommit.py
@@ -118,6 +118,9 @@ def generate_commit_record(repos_id,commit,filename,
 		author_email = strip_extra_amp(author_email)
 		committer_email = strip_extra_amp(committer_email)
 
+		#replace incomprehensible dates with epoch.
+		#2021-10-11 11:57:46 -0500
+		placeholder_date = "1970-01-01 00:00:15 -0500"
 
 		#session.logger.info(f"Timestamp: {author_timestamp}")
 		commit_record = {
diff --git a/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/utilitymethods.py b/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/utilitymethods.py
index 9835c32327..aef4e59989 100644
--- a/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/utilitymethods.py
+++ b/augur/tasks/git/util/facade_worker/facade_worker/utilitymethods.py
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ def facade_bulk_insert_commits(session,records):
 
 			facade_bulk_insert_commits(session,firsthalfRecords)
 			facade_bulk_insert_commits(session,secondhalfRecords)
-		else if records == 1 and isinstance(e,DataError):
+		elif len(records) == 1 and isinstance(e,DataError) and "time zone displacement" in f"{e}":
 			commit_record = records[0]
 			#replace incomprehensible dates with epoch.
 			#2021-10-11 11:57:46 -0500
@@ -244,18 +244,14 @@ def facade_bulk_insert_commits(session,records):
 			#Check for improper utc timezone offset
 			#UTC timezone offset should be betwen -14:00 and +14:00
 
-			if "time zone displacement" in f"{e}":
-				commit_record['author_timestamp'] = placeholder_date
-				commit_record['committer_timestamp'] = placeholder_date
-
-				session.execute(
-					s.insert(Commit),
-					[commit_record],
-				)
-				session.commit()
-			else:
-				session.logger.error(f"Ran into issue when trying to insert commit: {commit_record} \n Error: {e}")
-				raise e
+			commit_record['author_timestamp'] = placeholder_date
+			commit_record['committer_timestamp'] = placeholder_date
+
+			session.execute(
+				s.insert(Commit),
+				[commit_record],
+			)
+			session.commit()
 		else:
 			raise e