diff --git a/tests/t6030-completion-tasks.sh b/tests/t6030-completion-tasks.sh
index 8b344bb..45818db 100755
--- a/tests/t6030-completion-tasks.sh
+++ b/tests/t6030-completion-tasks.sh
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ notice the sunflowers +sunflowers @outside @garden +shared +landscape
 (C) 2012-02-28 @outside mow the lawn
 x 2012-02-21 +herbs @oriental buy spices
 x 2012-02-28 2012-02-21 +slack @home watch tv
+2012-02-28 +herbs buy cinnamon @grocer
 EOF
 test_todo_completion 'simple task' 'todo.sh list 1' '"1 # simple task"'
 test_todo_completion 'remove projects and contents from task' 'todo.sh list 2' '"2 # notice the sunflowers"'
@@ -21,5 +22,6 @@ test_todo_completion 'keep priority' 'todo.sh list 3' '"3 # (B) smell the flower
 test_todo_completion 'keep priority and remove timestamp' 'todo.sh list 4' '"4 # (C) mow the lawn"'
 test_todo_completion 'keep done marker and remove done date' 'todo.sh list 5' '"5 # x buy spices"'
 test_todo_completion 'keep done marker and remove timestamp and done date' 'todo.sh list 6' '"6 # x watch tv"'
+test_todo_completion 'remove add date' 'todo.sh list 7' '"7 # buy cinnamon"'
 
 test_done
diff --git a/todo_completion b/todo_completion
index 3f9d308..31ffc30 100644
--- a/todo_completion
+++ b/todo_completion
@@ -58,8 +58,8 @@ _todo()
                             # a safety check of the ls action output.
                             local todo=$( \
                                 eval TODOTXT_VERBOSE=0 $_todo_sh '-@ -+ -p -x command ls "^ *${cur} "' | \
-                                sed -e 's/^ *[0-9]\{1,\} //' -e 's/\((.) \)[0-9]\{2,4\}-[0-9]\{2\}-[0-9]\{2\} /\1/' \
-                                    -e 's/\([xX] \)\([0-9]\{2,4\}-[0-9]\{2\}-[0-9]\{2\} \)\{1,2\}/\1/' \
+                                sed -e 's/^ *[0-9]\{1,\} //' -e 's/^\((.) \)\{0,1\}[0-9]\{2,4\}-[0-9]\{2\}-[0-9]\{2\} /\1/' \
+                                    -e 's/^\([xX] \)\([0-9]\{2,4\}-[0-9]\{2\}-[0-9]\{2\} \)\{1,2\}/\1/' \
                                     -e 's/[[:space:]]*$//' \
                                     -e '1q' \
                             )