diff --git a/api-functions.coffee b/api-functions.coffee
index 581655c..dbc838d 100644
--- a/api-functions.coffee
+++ b/api-functions.coffee
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ expandParam = (param) ->
 
 
 sanitizeTask = (task, callback) ->
-  task.timestamp = new Date()
+  task.timestamp = new Date() if not task.timestamp?
   switch task.name
     when 'getParameterValues'
       projection = {}