diff --git a/bin/fail2ban-regex b/bin/fail2ban-regex
index 4a32d6c7..5d06074a 100755
--- a/bin/fail2ban-regex
+++ b/bin/fail2ban-regex
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ IGNOREREGEX:
 				version="%prog " + version)
 
 	p.add_options([
+		Option("-d", "--datepattern",
+			   help="set custom pattern used to match date/times"),
 		Option("-e", "--encoding",
 			   help="File encoding. Default: system locale"),
 		Option("-L", "--maxlines", type=int, default=0,
@@ -179,6 +181,9 @@ class Fail2banRegex(object):
 		self._maxlines_set = False		  # so we allow to override maxlines in cmdline
 		self._journalmatch = None
 
+		if opts.datepattern:
+			self.setDatePattern(opts.datepattern)
+
 		if opts.encoding:
 			self.encoding = opts.encoding
 		else:
@@ -194,6 +199,8 @@ class Fail2banRegex(object):
 		if opts.journalmatch is not None:
 			self.setJournalMatch(opts.journalmatch.split())
 
+	def setDatePattern(self, pattern):
+		self._filter.setDatePattern(pattern)
 
 	def setMaxLines(self, v):
 		if not self._maxlines_set:
diff --git a/config/filter.d/apache-common.conf b/config/filter.d/apache-common.conf
index cc35ae5f..69364247 100644
--- a/config/filter.d/apache-common.conf
+++ b/config/filter.d/apache-common.conf
@@ -18,4 +18,4 @@ after = apache-common.local
 # 2.2: [Sat Jun 01 11:23:08 2013] [error] [client 1.2.3.4]
 # 2.4: [Thu Jun 27 11:55:44.569531 2013] [core:info] [pid 4101:tid 2992634688] [client 1.2.3.4:46652]
 # Reference: https://github.com/fail2ban/fail2ban/issues/268
-_apache_error_client = \[[^]]+\] \[(error|core:\S+)\]( \[pid \d+:\S+ \d+\])? \[client <HOST>(:\d{1,5})?\]( \S+:)?
+_apache_error_client = \[[^]]*\] \[(error|core:\S+)\]( \[pid \d+:\S+ \d+\])? \[client <HOST>(:\d{1,5})?\]( \S+:)?
diff --git a/fail2ban/__init__.py b/fail2ban/__init__.py
index 2b76f4b6..3eae8ee3 100644
--- a/fail2ban/__init__.py
+++ b/fail2ban/__init__.py
@@ -23,3 +23,8 @@
 __author__ = "Cyril Jaquier"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright (c) 2004 Cyril Jaquier"
 __license__ = "GPL"
+
+import logging
+
+# Custom debug level
+logging.HEAVYDEBUG = 5
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/__init__.py b/fail2ban/client/__init__.py
index 3eae8ee3..2b76f4b6 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/__init__.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/__init__.py
@@ -23,8 +23,3 @@
 __author__ = "Cyril Jaquier"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright (c) 2004 Cyril Jaquier"
 __license__ = "GPL"
-
-import logging
-
-# Custom debug level
-logging.HEAVYDEBUG = 5
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/beautifier.py b/fail2ban/client/beautifier.py
index 0c5e31fb..1c6cdaeb 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/beautifier.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/beautifier.py
@@ -119,6 +119,12 @@ class Beautifier:
 				else:
 					msg = "Current match filter:\n"
 					msg += ' + '.join(" ".join(res) for res in response)
+			elif inC[2] == "datepattern":
+				msg = "Current date pattern set to: "
+				if response is None:
+					msg = msg + "Default Detectors"
+				else:
+					msg = msg + "%s (%s)" % response
 			elif inC[2] in ("ignoreip", "addignoreip", "delignoreip"):
 				if len(response) == 0:
 					msg = "No IP address/network is ignored"
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py b/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py
index e5fe8f4f..d8a6dbe8 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/filterreader.py
@@ -56,6 +56,8 @@ class FilterReader(DefinitionInitConfigReader):
 		if self._initOpts:
 			if 'maxlines' in self._initOpts:
 				stream.append(["set", self._jailName, "maxlines", self._initOpts["maxlines"]])
+			if 'datepattern' in self._initOpts:
+				stream.append(["set", self._jailName, "datepattern", self._initOpts["datepattern"]])
 			# Do not send a command if the match is empty.
 			if self._initOpts.get("journalmatch", '') != '':
 				for match in self._initOpts["journalmatch"].split("\n"):
diff --git a/fail2ban/protocol.py b/fail2ban/protocol.py
index e0fb018d..25ad3b5c 100644
--- a/fail2ban/protocol.py
+++ b/fail2ban/protocol.py
@@ -63,6 +63,7 @@ protocol = [
 ["set <JAIL> delignoreregex <INDEX>", "removes the regular expression at <INDEX> for ignoreregex"], 
 ["set <JAIL> findtime <TIME>", "sets the number of seconds <TIME> for which the filter will look back for <JAIL>"], 
 ["set <JAIL> bantime <TIME>", "sets the number of seconds <TIME> a host will be banned for <JAIL>"], 
+["set <JAIL> datepattern <PATTERN>", "sets the <PATTERN> used to match date/times for <JAIL>"],
 ["set <JAIL> usedns <VALUE>", "sets the usedns mode for <JAIL>"],
 ["set <JAIL> banip <IP>", "manually Ban <IP> for <JAIL>"], 
 ["set <JAIL> unbanip <IP>", "manually Unban <IP> in <JAIL>"], 
@@ -87,6 +88,7 @@ protocol = [
 ["get <JAIL> ignoreregex", "gets the list of regular expressions which matches patterns to ignore for <JAIL>"],
 ["get <JAIL> findtime", "gets the time for which the filter will look back for failures for <JAIL>"],
 ["get <JAIL> bantime", "gets the time a host is banned for <JAIL>"],
+["get <JAIL> datepattern", "gets the patern used to match date/times for <JAIL>"],
 ["get <JAIL> usedns", "gets the usedns setting for <JAIL>"],
 ["get <JAIL> maxretry", "gets the number of failures allowed for <JAIL>"],
 ["get <JAIL> maxlines", "gets the number of lines to buffer for <JAIL>"],
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
index f251be23..b6dc39a5 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datedetector.py
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ __license__ = "GPL"
 
 import time, logging
 
-from datetemplate import DateStrptime, DateTai64n, DateEpoch, DateISO8601
+from datetemplate import DatePatternRegex, DateTai64n, DateEpoch, DateISO8601
 from threading import Lock
 
 # Gets the instance of the logger.
@@ -43,130 +43,63 @@ class DateDetector:
 		self.__known_names.add(name)
 		self.__templates.append(template)
 	
+	def appendTemplate(self, template, **kwargs):
+		if isinstance(template, str):
+			template = DatePatternRegex(template, **kwargs)
+		else:
+			assert not kwargs
+		DateDetector._appendTemplate(self, template)
+
 	def addDefaultTemplate(self):
 		self.__lock.acquire()
 		try:
-			# standard
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("MONTH Day Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\S{3}\s{1,2}\d{1,2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%b %d %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
 			# asctime
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("WEEKDAY MONTH Day Hour:Minute:Second Year")
-			template.setRegex("\S{3} \S{3}\s{1,2}\d{1,2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2} \d{4}")
-			template.setPattern("%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Y")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%a %b %d %H:%M:%S %Y")
 			# asctime without year
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("WEEKDAY MONTH Day Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\S{3} \S{3}\s{1,2}\d{1,2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%a %b %d %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%a %b %d %H:%M:%S")
+			# standard
+			self.appendTemplate("%b %d %H:%M:%S")
 			# simple date
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Year/Month/Day Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{4}/\d{2}/\d{2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%Y/%m/%d %H:%M:%S")
 			# simple date too (from x11vnc)
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Day/Month/Year Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}/\d{2}/\d{4} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%d/%m/%Y %H:%M:%S")
 			# previous one but with year given by 2 digits
 			# (See http://bugs.debian.org/537610)
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Day/Month/Year2 Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}/\d{2}/\d{2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%d/%m/%y %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%d/%m/%y %H:%M:%S")
 			# Apache format [31/Oct/2006:09:22:55 -0000]
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Day/MONTH/Year:Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}/\S{3}/\d{4}:\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%d/%b/%Y:%H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%d/%b/%Y:%H:%M:%S")
 			# CPanel 05/20/2008:01:57:39
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Month/Day/Year:Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}/\d{2}/\d{4}:\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%m/%d/%Y:%H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
-			# Exim 2006-12-21 06:43:20
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Year-Month-Day Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{4}-\d{2}-\d{2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%m/%d/%Y:%H:%M:%S")
 			# custom for syslog-ng 2006.12.21 06:43:20
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Year.Month.Day Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{4}.\d{2}.\d{2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%Y.%m.%d %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%Y.%m.%d %H:%M:%S")
 			# named 26-Jul-2007 15:20:52.252 
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Day-MONTH-Year Hour:Minute:Second[.Millisecond]")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}-\S{3}-\d{4} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%d-%b-%Y %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%d-%b-%Y %H:%M:%S")
 			# 17-07-2008 17:23:25
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Day-Month-Year Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}-\d{2}-\d{4} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%d-%m-%Y %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%d-%m-%Y %H:%M:%S")
 			# 01-27-2012 16:22:44.252
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Month-Day-Year Hour:Minute:Second[.Millisecond]")
-			template.setRegex("\d{2}-\d{2}-\d{4} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%m-%d-%Y %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%m-%d-%Y %H:%M:%S")
 			# TAI64N
 			template = DateTai64n()
 			template.setName("TAI64N")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate(template)
 			# Epoch
 			template = DateEpoch()
 			template.setName("Epoch")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate(template)
 			# ISO 8601
 			template = DateISO8601()
 			template.setName("ISO 8601")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate(template)
 			# Only time information in the log
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("^\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%H:%M:%S", anchor=True)
 			# <09/16/08@05:03:30>
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("<Month/Day/Year@Hour:Minute:Second>")
-			template.setRegex("^<\d{2}/\d{2}/\d{2}@\d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}>")
-			template.setPattern("<%m/%d/%y@%H:%M:%S>")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("<%m/%d/%y@%H:%M:%S>", anchor=True)
 			# MySQL: 130322 11:46:11
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("MonthDayYear Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("^\d{2}\d{2}\d{2} +\d{1,2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%y%m%d %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%y%m%d %H:%M:%S", anchor=True)
 			# Apache Tomcat
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("MONTH Day, Year 12hour:Minute:Second AM/PM")
-			template.setRegex("\S{3}\s{1,2}\d{1,2}, \d{4} \d{1,2}:\d{2}:\d{2} [AP]M")
-			template.setPattern("%b %d, %Y %I:%M:%S %p")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%b %d, %Y %I:%M:%S %p")
 			# ASSP: Apr-27-13 02:33:06
-			template = DateStrptime()
-			template.setName("Month-Day-Year Hour:Minute:Second")
-			template.setRegex("^[a-zA-Z]{3}-\d{2}-\d{2} \d{2}:\d{2}:\d{2}")
-			template.setPattern("%b-%d-%y %H:%M:%S")
-			self._appendTemplate(template)
+			self.appendTemplate("%b-%d-%y %H:%M:%S", anchor=True)
 		finally:
 			self.__lock.release()
 	
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py b/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
index bd397edc..e445a343 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/datetemplate.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class DateTemplate:
 		if (wordBegin and not re.search(r'^\^', regex)):
 			regex = r'\b' + regex
 		self.__regex = regex
-		self.__cRegex = re.compile(regex)
+		self.__cRegex = re.compile(regex, re.UNICODE)
 		
 	def getRegex(self):
 		return self.__regex
@@ -178,6 +178,51 @@ class DateStrptime(DateTemplate):
 					date[2] = MyTime.gmtime()[2]
 		return date
 
+class DatePatternRegex(DateStrptime):
+	_reEscape = r"([\\.^$*+?\(\){}\[\]|])"
+	_patternRE = r"%(%|[aAbBdHIjmMpSUwWyY])"
+	_patternName = {
+		'a': "DAY", 'A': "DAYNAME", 'b': "MON", 'B': "MONTH", 'd': "Day",
+		'H': "24hour", 'I': "12hour", 'j': "Yearday", 'm': "Month",
+		'M': "Minute", 'p': "AMPM", 'S': "Second", 'U': "Yearweek",
+		'w': "Weekday", 'W': "Yearweek", 'y': 'Year2', 'Y': "Year", '%': "%"}
+	_patternRegex = {
+		'a': r"\w{3}", 'A': r"\w+", 'b': r"\w{3}", 'B': r"\w+",
+		'd': r"(?:3[0-1]|[1-2]\d|[ 0]?\d)", 'H': r"(?:2[0-3]|1\d|[ 0]?\d)",
+		'I': r"(?:1[0-2]|[ 0]?\d)",
+		'j': r"(?:36[0-6]3[0-5]\d|[1-2]\d\d|[ 0]?\d\d|[ 0]{0,2}\d)",
+		'm': r"(?:1[0-2]|[ 0]?[1-9])", 'M': r"[0-5]\d", 'p': r"[AP]M",
+		'S': r"(?:6[01]|[0-5]\d)", 'U': r"(?:5[0-3]|[1-4]\d|[ 0]?\d)",
+		'w': r"[0-6]", 'W': r"(?:5[0-3]|[ 0]?\d)", 'y': r"\d{2}",
+		'Y': r"\d{4}", '%': "%"}
+
+	def __init__(self, pattern=None, **kwargs):
+		DateStrptime.__init__(self)
+		if pattern:
+			self.setPattern(pattern, **kwargs)
+
+	def setPattern(self, pattern, anchor=False, **kwargs):
+		self.__pattern = pattern.strip()
+
+		name = re.sub(self._patternRE, r'%(\1)s', pattern) % self._patternName
+		DateStrptime.setName(self, name)
+
+		# Custom escape as don't want to escape "%"
+		pattern = re.sub(self._reEscape, r'\\\1', pattern)
+		regex = re.sub(
+			self._patternRE, r'%(\1)s', pattern) % self._patternRegex
+		if anchor:
+			regex = r"^" + regex
+		DateStrptime.setRegex(self, regex, **kwargs)
+
+	def getPattern(self):
+		return self.__pattern
+
+	def setRegex(self, line):
+		raise NotImplementedError("Regex derived from pattern")
+
+	def setName(self, line):
+		raise NotImplementedError("Name derived from pattern")
 
 class DateTai64n(DateTemplate):
 	
@@ -214,6 +259,6 @@ class DateISO8601(DateTemplate):
 		if dateMatch:
 			# Parses the date.
 			value = dateMatch.group()
-			date = list(iso8601.parse_date(value).timetuple())
+			date = list(iso8601.parse_date(value, None).timetuple())
 		return date
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filter.py b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
index e846a7cc..30268815 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ from failmanager import FailManager
 from ticket import FailTicket
 from jailthread import JailThread
 from datedetector import DateDetector
+from datetemplate import DatePatternRegex
 from mytime import MyTime
 from failregex import FailRegex, Regex, RegexException
 
@@ -191,6 +192,40 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 	def getFindTime(self):
 		return self.__findTime
 
+	##
+	# Set the date detector pattern, removing Defaults
+	#
+	# @param pattern the date template pattern
+
+	def setDatePattern(self, pattern):
+		dateDetector = DateDetector()
+		template = DatePatternRegex()
+		if pattern[0] == "^": # Special extra to enable anchor
+			template.setPattern(pattern[1:], anchor=True)
+		else:
+			template.setPattern(pattern, anchor=False)
+		dateDetector.appendTemplate(template)
+		self.dateDetector = dateDetector
+		logSys.info("Date pattern set to `%r`: `%s`" %
+			(pattern, template.getName()))
+		logSys.debug("Date pattern regex for %r: %s" %
+			(pattern, template.getRegex()))
+
+	##
+	# Get the date detector pattern, or Default Detectors if not changed
+	#
+	# @return pattern of the date template pattern
+
+	def getDatePattern(self):
+		templates = self.dateDetector.getTemplates()
+		if len(templates) > 1:
+			return None # Default Detectors in use
+		elif len(templates) == 1:
+			pattern =  templates[0].getPattern()
+			if templates[0].getRegex()[0] == "^":
+				pattern = "^" + pattern
+			return pattern, templates[0].getName()
+
 	##
 	# Set the maximum retry value.
 	#
@@ -394,7 +429,9 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 				logSys.log(7, "Matched %s", failRegex)
 				if date is None:
 					logSys.debug("Found a match for %r but no valid date/time "
-								 "found for %r. Please file a detailed issue on"
+								 "found for %r. Please try setting a custom "
+								 "date pattern. If format is complex, please "
+								 "file a detailed issue on"
 								 " https://github.com/fail2ban/fail2ban/issues "
 								 "in order to get support for this format."
 								 % (logLine, timeLine))
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/server.py b/fail2ban/server/server.py
index 00b838f5..69d888f8 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/server.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/server.py
@@ -222,6 +222,12 @@ class Server:
 	def getFindTime(self, name):
 		return self.__jails.getFilter(name).getFindTime()
 
+	def setDatePattern(self, name, pattern):
+		self.__jails.getFilter(name).setDatePattern(pattern)
+
+	def getDatePattern(self, name):
+		return self.__jails.getFilter(name).getDatePattern()
+
 	def addFailRegex(self, name, value):
 		self.__jails.getFilter(name).addFailRegex(value)
 	
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py b/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
index 39c74452..14c5cd60 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
@@ -176,6 +176,10 @@ class Transmitter:
 			value = command[2]
 			self.__server.setFindTime(name, int(value))
 			return self.__server.getFindTime(name)
+		elif command[1] == "datepattern":
+			value = command[2]
+			self.__server.setDatePattern(name, value)
+			return self.__server.getDatePattern(name)
 		elif command[1] == "maxretry":
 			value = command[2]
 			self.__server.setMaxRetry(name, int(value))
@@ -270,6 +274,8 @@ class Transmitter:
 			return self.__server.getUseDns(name)
 		elif command[1] == "findtime":
 			return self.__server.getFindTime(name)
+		elif command[1] == "datepattern":
+			return self.__server.getDatePattern(name)
 		elif command[1] == "maxretry":
 			return self.__server.getMaxRetry(name)
 		elif command[1] == "maxlines":
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
index 9095a4af..30138d43 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ class FilterReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
 				"_COMM=sshd", "+", "_SYSTEMD_UNIT=sshd.service", "_UID=0"],
 			['set', 'testcase01', 'addjournalmatch',
 				"FIELD= with spaces ", "+", "AFIELD= with + char and spaces"],
+			['set', 'testcase01', 'datepattern', "%Y %m %d %H:%M:%S"],
 			['set', 'testcase01', 'maxlines', "1"], # Last for overide test
 		]
 		filterReader = FilterReader("testcase01", "testcase01", {})
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
index 9aea1c1f..071060ca 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/datedetectortestcase.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ class DateDetectorTest(unittest.TestCase):
 			self.assertEqual(old_name, n.getName()) # "Sort must be stable"
 
 	def testAllUniqueTemplateNames(self):
-		self.assertRaises(ValueError, self.__datedetector._appendTemplate,
+		self.assertRaises(ValueError, self.__datedetector.appendTemplate,
 						  self.__datedetector.getTemplates()[0])
 
 	def testFullYearMatch_gh130(self):
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/files/filter.d/testcase01.conf b/fail2ban/tests/files/filter.d/testcase01.conf
index 8bc4261d..0dbbbd2a 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/files/filter.d/testcase01.conf
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/files/filter.d/testcase01.conf
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ ignoreregex = ^.+ john from host 192.168.1.1\s*$
 # "maxlines" is number of log lines to buffer for multi-line regex searches
 maxlines = 1
 
+# "datepattern" allows setting of a custom data pattern as alternative 
+# to the default date detectors. See manpage strptime(3) for date formats.
+# NOTE: that ALL '%' must be prefixed with '%' due to string substitution
+# e.g. %%Y-%%m-%%d %%H:%%M
+datepattern = %%Y %%m %%d %%H:%%M:%%S
+
 # Option:  journalmatch
 # Notes.:  systemd journalctl style match filter for journal based backends
 # Values:  TEXT
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-auth b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-auth
index 6035db3f..9ba852fa 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-auth
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-auth
@@ -3,5 +3,5 @@
 [Sat Jun 01 02:17:42 2013] [error] [client 192.168.33.1] File does not exist: /srv/http/site/[client 192.168.0.1] user root not found
 
 # should match
-# failJSON: { "time": "2005-06-01T02:17:42", "match": true , "host": "192.168.0.2" }
+# failJSON: { "time": "2013-06-01T02:17:42", "match": true , "host": "192.168.0.2" }
 [Sat Jun 01 02:17:42 2013] [error] [client 192.168.0.2] user root not found
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-nohome b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-nohome
index aea0d816..ffac89c9 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-nohome
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-nohome
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 # Apache 2.2
-# failJSON: { "time": "2005-06-01T11:23:08", "match": true , "host": "1.2.3.4" }
+# failJSON: { "time": "2013-06-01T11:23:08", "match": true , "host": "1.2.3.4" }
 [Sat Jun 01 11:23:08 2013] [error] [client 1.2.3.4] File does not exist: /xxx/~
 # Apache 2.4
 # failJSON: { "time": "2005-06-27T11:55:44", "match": true , "host": "192.0.2.12" }
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-noscript b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-noscript
index e08b3468..d97d7bf4 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-noscript
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-noscript
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-# failJSON: { "time": "2005-06-09T07:57:47", "match": true , "host": "192.0.43.10" }
+# failJSON: { "time": "2013-06-09T07:57:47", "match": true , "host": "192.0.43.10" }
 [Sun Jun 09 07:57:47 2013] [error] [client 192.0.43.10] script '/usr/lib/cgi-bin/gitweb.cgiwp-login.php' not found or unable to stat
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-overflows b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-overflows
index 1af377f1..d40c1c4f 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-overflows
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/apache-overflows
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# failJSON: { "time": "2005-03-16T15:39:29", "match": true , "host": "58.179.109.179" }
+# failJSON: { "time": "2010-03-16T15:39:29", "match": true , "host": "58.179.109.179" }
 [Tue Mar 16 15:39:29 2010] [error] [client 58.179.109.179] Invalid URI in request \xf9h\xa9\xf3\x88\x8cXKj \xbf-l*4\x87n\xe4\xfe\xd4\x1d\x06\x8c\xf8m\\rS\xf6n\xeb\x8
-# failJSON: { "time": "2005-03-15T15:44:47", "match": true , "host": "121.222.2.133" }
+# failJSON: { "time": "2010-03-15T15:44:47", "match": true , "host": "121.222.2.133" }
 [Mon Mar 15 15:44:47 2010] [error] [client 121.222.2.133] Invalid URI in request n\xed*\xbe*\xab\xefd\x80\xb5\xae\xf6\x01\x10M?\xf2\xce\x13\x9c\xd7\xa0N\xa7\xdb%0\xde\xe0\xfc\xd2\xa0\xfe\xe9w\xee\xc4`v\x9b[{\x0c:\xcb\x93\xc6\xa0\x93\x9c`l\\\x8d\xc9
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/vsftpd b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/vsftpd
index f3fb997f..ac6d0454 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/vsftpd
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/files/logs/vsftpd
@@ -5,6 +5,6 @@ Oct 11 01:06:47 ServerJV vsftpd: (pam_unix) authentication failure; logname= uid
 Feb 6 12:02:29 server vsftpd(pam_unix)[15522]: authentication failure; logname= uid=0 euid=0 tty= ruser= rhost=64.168.103.1 user=user1
 
 #2 Internal
-# failJSON: { "time": "2005-01-19T12:20:33", "match": true , "host": "64.106.46.98" }
+# failJSON: { "time": "2007-01-19T12:20:33", "match": true , "host": "64.106.46.98" }
 Fri Jan 19 12:20:33 2007 [pid 27202] [anonymous] FAIL LOGIN: Client "64.106.46.98"
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
index b6b536a9..84e89b3e 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
@@ -235,6 +235,12 @@ class Transmitter(TransmitterBase):
 		self.setGetTest("bantime", "-50", -50, jail=self.jailName)
 		self.setGetTestNOK("bantime", "Cat", jail=self.jailName)
 
+	def testDatePattern(self):
+		self.setGetTest("datepattern", "%%%Y%m%d%H%M%S",
+			("%%%Y%m%d%H%M%S", "%YearMonthDay24hourMinuteSecond"),
+			jail=self.jailName)
+		self.setGetTestNOK("datepattern", "%Cat%a%%%g", jail=self.jailName)
+
 	def testJailUseDNS(self):
 		self.setGetTest("usedns", "yes", jail=self.jailName)
 		self.setGetTest("usedns", "warn", jail=self.jailName)