diff --git a/auth/db/auth.php b/auth/db/auth.php
index 931b4d2..ace6505 100644
--- a/auth/db/auth.php
+++ b/auth/db/auth.php
@@ -358,6 +358,7 @@ class auth_plugin_db extends auth_plugin_base {
                     echo "\t"; print_string('auth_dbreviveduser', 'auth_db', array('name'=>$user->username, 'id'=>$user->id)); echo "\n";
 
                 } else {
+                    $user->timecreated = $user->modified;
                     $id = $DB->insert_record ('user',$user); // it is truly a new user
                     echo "\t"; print_string('auth_dbinsertuser','auth_db',array('name'=>$user->username, 'id'=>$id)); echo "\n";
                     // if relevant, tag for password generation