diff --git a/circ/circulation.pl b/circ/circulation.pl
index f15d4cea94..b051281d21 100755
--- a/circ/circulation.pl
+++ b/circ/circulation.pl
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ sub build_issue_data {
         $it->{'renew_failed'} = $renew_failed{$it->{'itemnumber'}};
         $it->{'return_failed'} = $return_failed{$it->{'barcode'}};
 
-        if ( $it->{'issuedate'} gt $todaysdate or $it->{'lastreneweddate'} gt $todaysdate ) {
+        if ( $it->{'issuedate'}."" gt $todaysdate or $it->{'lastreneweddate'} gt $todaysdate ) {
             (!$relatives) ? push @todaysissues, $it : push @relissues, $it;
         } else {
             (!$relatives) ? push @previousissues, $it : push @relprevissues, $it;