diff --git a/src/stacosys/run.py b/src/stacosys/run.py
index d311049..42d903c 100644
--- a/src/stacosys/run.py
+++ b/src/stacosys/run.py
@@ -46,13 +46,9 @@ def configure_and_validate_mailer(config, logger):
         config.get(ConfigParameter.SMTP_LOGIN),
         config.get(ConfigParameter.SMTP_PASSWORD),
     )
-    mailer.configure_destination(config.get(ConfigParameter.SITE_ADMIN_EMAIL))    
-    try:
-        if not mailer.check():
-            logger.error("Email configuration not working")
-            sys.exit(1)
-    except Exception as e:
-        logging.error("Failed to check email: %s", e)
+    mailer.configure_destination(config.get(ConfigParameter.SITE_ADMIN_EMAIL))
+    if not mailer.check():
+        logger.error("Email configuration not working")
         sys.exit(1)
     return mailer
 
diff --git a/src/stacosys/service/rssfeed.py b/src/stacosys/service/rssfeed.py
index c9bea05..9c9ebe0 100644
--- a/src/stacosys/service/rssfeed.py
+++ b/src/stacosys/service/rssfeed.py
@@ -1,15 +1,13 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env python
 # -*- coding: UTF-8 -*-
 
-from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from datetime import datetime
 
 import markdown
 import PyRSS2Gen
 
 from stacosys.db import dao
 
-RFC_822_FORMAT = '%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S +0000'
-
 
 class Rss:
     def __init__(self) -> None:
@@ -42,7 +40,7 @@ class Rss:
                     link=item_link,
                     description=markdownizer.convert(row.content),
                     guid=PyRSS2Gen.Guid(f"{item_link}{row.id}"),
-                    pubDate=self._to_rfc822(row.published)
+                    pubDate=row.published,
                 )
             )
 
@@ -56,7 +54,3 @@ class Rss:
         )
         with open(self._rss_file, "w", encoding="utf-8") as outfile:
             rss.write_xml(outfile, encoding="utf-8")
-
-    def _to_rfc822(self, dt):
-        return dt.replace(tzinfo=timezone.utc) \
-                 .strftime('%a, %d %b %Y %H:%M:%S %z')