diff --git a/django/template/defaultfilters.py b/django/template/defaultfilters.py
index 673d044e5b..7db6715b49 100644
--- a/django/template/defaultfilters.py
+++ b/django/template/defaultfilters.py
@@ -681,7 +681,10 @@ def date(value, arg=None):
         return u''
     if arg is None:
         arg = settings.DATE_FORMAT
-    return format(value, arg)
+    try:
+        return format(value, arg)
+    except AttributeError:
+        return ''
 date.is_safe = False
 
 def time(value, arg=None):
@@ -691,7 +694,10 @@ def time(value, arg=None):
         return u''
     if arg is None:
         arg = settings.TIME_FORMAT
-    return time_format(value, arg)
+    try:
+        return time_format(value, arg)
+    except AttributeError:
+        return ''
 time.is_safe = False
 
 def timesince(value, arg=None):
diff --git a/tests/regressiontests/templates/filters.py b/tests/regressiontests/templates/filters.py
index 91afdc74ba..e8b1dbe135 100644
--- a/tests/regressiontests/templates/filters.py
+++ b/tests/regressiontests/templates/filters.py
@@ -320,4 +320,10 @@ def get_filter_tests():
         'join02': (r'{% autoescape off %}{{ a|join:", " }}{% endautoescape %}', {'a': ['alpha', 'beta & me']}, 'alpha, beta & me'),
         'join03': (r'{{ a|join:" & " }}', {'a': ['alpha', 'beta & me']}, 'alpha & beta & me'),
         'join04': (r'{% autoescape off %}{{ a|join:" & " }}{% endautoescape %}', {'a': ['alpha', 'beta & me']}, 'alpha & beta & me'),
+
+
+        'date01': (r'{{ d|date:"m" }}', {'d': datetime(2008, 1, 1)}, '01'),
+        'date02': (r'{{ d|date }}', {'d': datetime(2008, 1, 1)}, 'Jan. 1, 2008'),
+        #Ticket 9520: Make sure |date doesn't blow up on non-dates
+        'date03': (r'{{ d|date:"m" }}', {'d': 'fail_string'}, ''),
     }