diff --git a/pygeoapi/provider/elasticsearch_.py b/pygeoapi/provider/elasticsearch_.py
index 9072189..47e2b69 100644
--- a/pygeoapi/provider/elasticsearch_.py
+++ b/pygeoapi/provider/elasticsearch_.py
@@ -266,7 +266,8 @@ class ElasticsearchProvider(BaseProvider):
 
                 sp = sort['property']
 
-                if self.fields[sp]['type'] == 'string':
+                if (self.fields[sp]['type'] == 'string'
+                        and self.fields[sp].get('format') != 'date'):
                     LOGGER.debug('setting ES .raw on property')
                     sort_property = '{}.raw'.format(self.mask_prop(sp))
                 else: