diff --git a/ckanext/datastore/backend/postgres.py b/ckanext/datastore/backend/postgres.py
index ea1473a076b..0e56ce8e81d 100644
--- a/ckanext/datastore/backend/postgres.py
+++ b/ckanext/datastore/backend/postgres.py
@@ -1719,7 +1719,6 @@ def datastore_search(self, context, data_dict, fields_types, query_dict):
 
         select_cols = []
         records_format = data_dict.get(u'records_format')
-        json_values = records_format in (u'objects', u'lists')
         for field_id in field_ids:
             fmt = u'to_json({0})' if records_format == u'lists' else u'{0}'
             typ = fields_types.get(field_id)
@@ -1727,7 +1726,7 @@ def datastore_search(self, context, data_dict, fields_types, query_dict):
                 fmt = u'({0}).json'
             elif typ == u'timestamp':
                 fmt = u"to_char({0}, 'YYYY-MM-DD\"T\"HH24:MI:SS')"
-                if json_values:
+                if records_format == u'lists':
                     fmt = u"to_json({0})".format(fmt)
             elif typ.startswith(u'_') or typ.endswith(u'[]'):
                 fmt = u'array_to_json({0})'