diff --git a/Convert_Matlab/inst_eddies_v6.py b/Convert_Matlab/inst_eddies_v6.py
index 4db61cae9a572e8760d0c11ef937991e8db81df5..34c1b4e287d2a4173c67dc88b6616f02598d9c19 100755
--- a/Convert_Matlab/inst_eddies_v6.py
+++ b/Convert_Matlab/inst_eddies_v6.py
@@ -96,8 +96,14 @@ def write(writers, cell, cyclone):
 if len(sys.argv) == 1: sys.exit("Required argument: first input .mat file")
 adt_file = sys.argv[1]
 dirname, basename = path.split(adt_file)
-my_date = parser.parse(basename, yearfirst=True, dayfirst = False,
-                       fuzzy = True).date()
+valid_date_formats = ["adt_%Y-%m-%d.mat", "adt_%Y%m%d.mat"]
+
+for date_format in valid_date_formats:
+    try:
+        my_date = datetime.datetime.strptime(basename, date_format).date()
+    except ValueError:
+        pass
+
 d = my_date - datetime.date(1950, 1, 1)
 d = d.days
 
@@ -160,7 +166,7 @@ while True:
     my_date += datetime.timedelta(1)
     if my_date > final_date: break
     d += 1
-    basename = my_date.strftime("adt_%Y-%m-%d.mat")
+    basename = my_date.strftime(date_format)
     adt_file = path.join(dirname, basename)
     
 nml = f90nml.Namelist()