diff --git a/config/settings/settings.conf b/config/settings/settings.conf
index 1e3bcb74..b970ea58 100644
--- a/config/settings/settings.conf
+++ b/config/settings/settings.conf
@@ -143,8 +143,8 @@ emoticons=True
 # define the current Fenrir key
 fenrirKeys=KEY_KP0,KEY_META,KEY_INSERT
 scriptKeys=KEY_COMPOSE
-timeFormat=%H:%M:%P
-dateFormat=%A, %B %d, %Y
+timeFormat=%%I:%%M%%P
+dateFormat=%%A, %%B %%d, %%Y
 autoSpellCheck=True
 spellCheckLanguage=en_US
 # path for your scripts "scriptKeys" functionality