diff --git a/packages/ember-data/lib/transforms/date.js b/packages/ember-data/lib/transforms/date.js
index 62092b0f165..2c4415f7c3a 100644
--- a/packages/ember-data/lib/transforms/date.js
+++ b/packages/ember-data/lib/transforms/date.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ export default Transform.extend({
     } else if (serialized === null || serialized === undefined) {
       // if the value is not present in the data,
       // return undefined, not null.
-      return serialized;
+      return undefined;
     } else {
       return null;
     }