diff --git a/backup_imap/backup_imap.py b/backup_imap/backup_imap.py
index bf7ded8..ffa48b1 100644
--- a/backup_imap/backup_imap.py
+++ b/backup_imap/backup_imap.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class BackupImap:
             os.mkdir(mailbox_path)
         current = time.gmtime()
         for year in range(current.tm_year-10, current.tm_year+1):
-            search_response, search_data = self.imap.search('UTF-8', f'(BEFORE "{year}-1-1")')
+            search_response, search_data = self.imap.search('UTF-8', f'(BEFORE "1-Jan-{year}")')
             if search_response == 'OK':
                 all_msgs_uids = search_data[0].split()
                 self._log.debug(