diff --git a/liquidprompt b/liquidprompt
index 319a0e6..83a2b76 100755
--- a/liquidprompt
+++ b/liquidprompt
@@ -53,12 +53,14 @@ if test -n "$BASH_VERSION" -a -n "$PS1" -a -n "$TERM" ; then
     _LP_CLOSE_ESC="\]"
     _LP_USER_SYMBOL="\u"
     _LP_HOST_SYMBOL="\h"
+    _LP_TIME_SYMBOL="\\\\t"
 elif test -n "$ZSH_VERSION" ; then
     _LP_WORKING_SHELL=zsh
     _LP_OPEN_ESC="%{"
     _LP_CLOSE_ESC="%}"
     _LP_USER_SYMBOL="%n"
     _LP_HOST_SYMBOL="%m"
+    _LP_TIME_SYMBOL="%*"
 else
     echo "liquidprompt: shell not supported" >&2
     return
@@ -1182,7 +1184,7 @@ _lp_sb()
 _lp_time()
 {
     [[ "$LP_ENABLE_TIME" != 1 ]] && return
-    echo -ne "${LP_COLOR_TIME}$(date +%H:%M:%S)${NO_COL}"
+    echo -ne "${LP_COLOR_TIME}${_LP_TIME_SYMBOL}${NO_COL}"
 }
 
 ########################