diff --git a/plugins/puppet/puppetmaster b/plugins/puppet/puppetmaster
index d3925def..b11aaf9e 100755
--- a/plugins/puppet/puppetmaster
+++ b/plugins/puppet/puppetmaster
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ def phaselog
 	logfile = ENV['puppet_logfile'] || '/var/log/messages'
 	count,avg,day_count_unique,day_count = 0 ,0 ,0, 0
 	t = Time.now
-	today = t.strftime("^%Y-%m-%dT")
-	hour = t.strftime("^%Y-%m-%dT%H:")
+	dateformat = ENV['puppet_logformat'] || "^%b %d"
+	today = t.strftime(dateformat)
+	hour = t.strftime(dateformat + " %H:")
 	m = t.min.to_i
 	last5m = ""
 	6.times do |i|