diff --git a/src/main/java/com/flightstats/hub/channel/ChannelResource.java b/src/main/java/com/flightstats/hub/channel/ChannelResource.java
index 4c9fbc1ee..424edcf28 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/flightstats/hub/channel/ChannelResource.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/flightstats/hub/channel/ChannelResource.java
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ public Response createChannel(@PathParam("channel") String channelName, String j
         log.trace("put channel {} {}", channelName, json);
         Optional<ChannelConfig> oldConfig = channelService.getChannelConfig(channelName, false);
         ChannelConfig channelConfig = ChannelConfig.createFromJsonWithName(json, channelName);
+        if (channelConfig.getCreationDate()!= null) {
+            // If the creation date is being modified, throw a 500 error
+            return Response.status(Response.Status.INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR)
+                    .entity("Modification of the creation date is not allowed").build();
+        }
         if (oldConfig.isPresent()) {
             ChannelConfig config = oldConfig.get();
             log.trace("using old channel {} {}", config, config.getCreationDate().getTime());