diff --git a/data/model/image.py b/data/model/image.py
index aef076336..d0433708a 100644
--- a/data/model/image.py
+++ b/data/model/image.py
@@ -280,7 +280,10 @@ def set_image_metadata(docker_image_id, namespace_name, repository_name, created
 
     if created_date_str is not None:
       try:
-        fetched.storage.created = dateutil.parser.parse(created_date_str).replace(tzinfo=None)
+        # TODO stop writing to storage fields when all readers are removed
+        parsed_created_time = dateutil.parser.parse(created_date_str).replace(tzinfo=None)
+        fetched.created = parsed_created_time
+        fetched.storage.created = parsed_created_time
       except:
         # parse raises different exceptions, so we cannot use a specific kind of handler here.
         pass