diff --git a/samples/templates/sampleSpreadsheet.php b/samples/templates/sampleSpreadsheet.php
index 6d9568be65..b698ba897e 100644
--- a/samples/templates/sampleSpreadsheet.php
+++ b/samples/templates/sampleSpreadsheet.php
@@ -31,7 +31,9 @@
 $helper->log('Add some data');
 $spreadsheet->setActiveSheetIndex(0);
 $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('B1', 'Invoice');
-$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('D1', Date::PHPToExcel(gmmktime(0, 0, 0, date('m'), date('d'), date('Y'))));
+$date = new DateTime('now');
+$date->setTime(0, 0, 0);
+$spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('D1', Date::PHPToExcel($date));
 $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->getStyle('D1')->getNumberFormat()->setFormatCode(NumberFormat::FORMAT_DATE_XLSX15);
 $spreadsheet->getActiveSheet()->setCellValue('E1', '#12566');