diff --git a/crates/didbot-verify/src/bin/didbot-verify.rs b/crates/didbot-verify/src/bin/didbot-verify.rs
index 075080d8..08ce1442 100644
--- a/crates/didbot-verify/src/bin/didbot-verify.rs
+++ b/crates/didbot-verify/src/bin/didbot-verify.rs
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 use std::process::ExitCode;
 
 use didbot_verify::{check, Network, Policy};
+use time::format_description::well_known::Rfc3339;
 use time::OffsetDateTime;
 
 fn main() -> ExitCode {
@@ -165,11 +166,14 @@ fn report(verification: &check::Verification) {
             verification.owner.as_deref().unwrap_or("its owner"),
             verification.server.as_deref().unwrap_or("its server"),
         );
+        let checked_at = verification
+            .checked_at
+            .format(&Rfc3339)
+            .unwrap_or_else(|_| verification.checked_at.to_string());
         println!(
-            "checked at {}. A verdict is about that instant: the owner can delete their \
-             bot.did.operator record at any time, and this check would then say so on its \
-             next run.",
-            verification.checked_at
+            "checked at {checked_at}. A verdict is about that instant: the owner can delete \
+             their bot.did.operator record at any time, and this check would then say so on \
+             its next run."
         );
         return;
     }