diff --git a/tubesync/sync/management/commands/import-existing-media.py b/tubesync/sync/management/commands/import-existing-media.py
index fd6a800d..00fd5ef1 100644
--- a/tubesync/sync/management/commands/import-existing-media.py
+++ b/tubesync/sync/management/commands/import-existing-media.py
@@ -54,5 +54,18 @@ class Command(BaseCommand):
                 item.media_file.name = str(Path(filepath).relative_to(item.media_file.storage.location))
                 item.downloaded = True
                 item.downloaded_filesize = Path(filepath).stat().st_size
+                # set a reasonable download date
+                date = item.metadata_published‎(Path(filepath).stat().st_mtime)
+                if item.published and item.published > date:
+                    date = item.published
+                if item.has_metadata:
+                    # TODO: switch to the newer function when it is merged from PR 807
+                    # item.get_metadata_first_value('epoch', 0)
+                    metadata_date = item.metadata_published‎(item.loaded_metadata.get('epoch', 0))
+                    if metadata_date and metadata_date > date:
+                        date = metadata_date
+                if item.download_date and item.download_date > date:
+                    date = item.download_date
+                item.download_date = date
                 item.save()
         log.info('Done')