diff --git a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_reading.py b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_reading.py
index 3f5846d07..52d10aa6a 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_reading.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/tests/views/test_reading.py
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ class ReadingViews(TestCase):
             {
                 "post-status": True,
                 "privacy": "followers",
+                "start_date": readthrough.start_date,
                 "finish_date": timezone.now().isoformat(),
                 "id": readthrough.id,
             },
diff --git a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
index 99e95ddbd..09b4b2bf8 100644
--- a/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
+++ b/bookwyrm/views/reading.py
@@ -193,11 +193,11 @@ def create_readthrough(request):
     """can't use the form because the dates are too finnicky"""
     book = get_object_or_404(models.Edition, id=request.POST.get("book"))
 
-    start_date = (
-        load_date_in_user_tz_as_utc(request.POST.get("start_date"), request.user),
+    start_date = load_date_in_user_tz_as_utc(
+        request.POST.get("start_date"), request.user
     )
-    finish_date = (
-        load_date_in_user_tz_as_utc(request.POST.get("finish_date"), request.user),
+    finish_date = load_date_in_user_tz_as_utc(
+        request.POST.get("finish_date"), request.user
     )
     models.ReadThrough.objects.create(
         user=request.user,