diff --git a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/widgets/ckan2zenodopublisher/server/CkanToZenodoPublisherServiceImpl.java b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/widgets/ckan2zenodopublisher/server/CkanToZenodoPublisherServiceImpl.java
index 75111a9..6ad6f67 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/widgets/ckan2zenodopublisher/server/CkanToZenodoPublisherServiceImpl.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/gcube/portlets/widgets/ckan2zenodopublisher/server/CkanToZenodoPublisherServiceImpl.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package org.gcube.portlets.widgets.ckan2zenodopublisher.server;
 
+import java.util.Date;
 import java.util.HashSet;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -111,6 +112,11 @@ public class CkanToZenodoPublisherServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet imple
 			// Step 1 : metadata
 			client = new Ckan2ZenodoImpl();
 			LOG.debug("Calling updatedMetadata for: " + zenodoDepositionPreview);
+			
+			//fixing issue #26166
+			Date thePublicationDate = zenodoDepositionPreview.getMetadata().getPublication_date();
+			LOG.debug("thePublicationDate before update is: " + thePublicationDate);
+			
 			zenodoDepositionPreview = client.updatedMetadata(zenodoDepositionPreview);
 
 			// Step 2 : publish Resources
@@ -126,6 +132,11 @@ public class CkanToZenodoPublisherServiceImpl extends RemoteServiceServlet imple
 
 			// Get the item representation
 			CkanItemDescriptor item = client.read(zenodoItem.getName());
+
+			//fixing issue #26166
+			LOG.debug("thePublicationDate before publish is: " + thePublicationDate);
+			zenodoDepositionPreview.getMetadata().setPublication_date(thePublicationDate);
+			
 			// Finalize
 			LOG.debug("Calling publish on Zenodo for: " + zenodoDepositionPreview);
 			zenodoDepositionPreview = client.publish(zenodoDepositionPreview, item);