diff --git a/config/fail2ban.conf.default b/config/fail2ban.conf.default
index e2c29567..d841bd7a 100644
--- a/config/fail2ban.conf.default
+++ b/config/fail2ban.conf.default
@@ -132,6 +132,12 @@ from = fail2ban
 #
 to = root
 
+# Option:  localtime
+# Notes.:  report local time (including timezone) or GMT
+# Values:  [true | false]  Default:  false
+#
+localtime = true
+
 # Option:  subject
 # Notes.:  subject of the e-mail.
 # Tags:    <section> active section (eg ssh, apache, etc)
diff --git a/fail2ban.py b/fail2ban.py
index 5a630be8..d2e88b3e 100755
--- a/fail2ban.py
+++ b/fail2ban.py
@@ -358,6 +358,7 @@ def main():
 					["int", "port", "25"],
 					["str", "from", "root"],
 					["str", "to", "root"],
+					["bool", "localtime", False],
 					["str", "subject", "[Fail2Ban] Banned <ip>"],
 					["str", "message", "Fail2Ban notification"])
 	
@@ -370,6 +371,7 @@ def main():
 		mail = Mail(mailConf["host"], mailConf["port"])
 		mail.setFromAddr(mailConf["from"])
 		mail.setToAddr(mailConf["to"])
+		mail.setLocalTimeFlag(mailConf["localtime"])
 		logSys.debug("to: " + mailConf["to"] + " from: " + mailConf["from"])
 	
 	# Options
diff --git a/utils/mail.py b/utils/mail.py
index 23270335..8a244d4f 100644
--- a/utils/mail.py
+++ b/utils/mail.py
@@ -24,10 +24,9 @@ __date__ = "$Date$"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright (c) 2004 Cyril Jaquier"
 __license__ = "GPL"
 
-import logging, smtplib
+import logging, smtplib, email.Utils
 
 from utils.strings import replaceTag
-from time import strftime, gmtime
 
 # Gets the instance of the logger.
 logSys = logging.getLogger("fail2ban")
@@ -39,6 +38,7 @@ class Mail:
 	def __init__(self, host, port = 25):
 		self.host = host
 		self.port = port
+		self.localTimeFlag = False
 		
 	def setFromAddr(self, fromAddr):
 		""" Set from: address
@@ -50,6 +50,11 @@ class Mail:
 		"""
 		self.toAddr = toAddr.split()
 
+	def setLocalTimeFlag(self, localTimeFlag):
+		""" Set to: address
+		"""
+		self.localTimeFlag = localTimeFlag
+
 	def sendmail(self, subject, message, aInfo):
 		""" Send an email using smtplib
 		"""
@@ -58,7 +63,7 @@ class Mail:
 		
 		mail = ("From: %s\r\nTo: %s\r\nDate: %s\r\nSubject: %s\r\n\r\n" %
 				(self.fromAddr, ", ".join(self.toAddr),
-				strftime("%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S +0000", gmtime()),
+				email.Utils.formatdate(localtime = self.localTimeFlag),
 				subj)) + msg
 		
 		try:
@@ -71,4 +76,4 @@ class Mail:
 			logSys.error("Unable to send mail to " + self.host + ":" +
 						 `self.port` + " from " + self.fromAddr + " to " +
 						 `self.toAddr` + ": " + `e` + ": " + `e.args`)
-		
\ No newline at end of file
+