diff --git a/lib/cassandra/util.rb b/lib/cassandra/util.rb
index 167830774..856b072aa 100644
--- a/lib/cassandra/util.rb
+++ b/lib/cassandra/util.rb
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ def encode_object(object, io = StringIO.new)
     alias encode encode_object
 
     def encode_time(time, io = StringIO.new)
-      encode_string(time.to_s, io)
+      encode_string(time.strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S.%L%z'), io)
     end
 
     def encode_udt(udt, io = StringIO.new)