diff --git a/depicts/model.py b/depicts/model.py
index 01912b6..835412b 100644
--- a/depicts/model.py
+++ b/depicts/model.py
@@ -112,8 +112,10 @@ class Item(Base):
     @property
     def date(self) -> str | None:
         v = wikibase.first_datavalue(typing.cast(Entity, self.entity), "P571")
+        if not v:
+            return None
         assert isinstance(v, dict)
-        return utils.format_time(v["time"], v["precision"]) if v else None
+        return utils.format_time(v["time"], v["precision"])
 
 
 class Triple(Base):