diff -r 09847b90beae -r 989467e8e3a9 mercurial/commands.py
--- a/mercurial/commands.py	Sun Feb 17 12:53:57 2008 +0100
+++ b/mercurial/commands.py	Sun Feb 17 21:34:28 2008 +0100
@@ -196,6 +196,10 @@
     if not rev:
         raise util.Abort(_("please specify a revision to backout"))
 
+    date = opts.get('date')
+    if date:
+        opts['date'] = util.parsedate(date)
+
     cmdutil.bail_if_changed(repo)
     node = repo.lookup(rev)
 
@@ -1440,6 +1444,10 @@
     """
     patches = (patch1,) + patches
 
+    date = opts.get('date')
+    if date:
+        opts['date'] = util.parsedate(date)
+
     if opts.get('exact') or not opts['force']:
         cmdutil.bail_if_changed(repo)