diff --git a/reference/datetime/datetime/construct.xml b/reference/datetime/datetime/construct.xml
index 619a41dcbf..0615f828be 100644
--- a/reference/datetime/datetime/construct.xml
+++ b/reference/datetime/datetime/construct.xml
@@ -94,7 +94,13 @@
    <programlisting role="php">
 <![CDATA[
 <?php
-$date = new DateTime('2000-01-01');
+try {
+    $date = new DateTime('2000-01-01');
+} catch (Exception $e) {
+    echo $e->getMessage();
+    exit(1);
+}
+
 echo $date->format('Y-m-d');
 ?>
 ]]>
@@ -104,6 +110,14 @@ echo $date->format('Y-m-d');
 <![CDATA[
 <?php
 $date = date_create('2000-01-01');
+if (!$date) {
+    $e = date_get_last_errors();
+    foreach ($e['errors'] as $error) {
+        echo "$error\n";
+    }
+    exit(1);
+}
+
 echo date_format($date, 'Y-m-d');
 ?>
 ]]>