diff --git a/anki/utils.py b/anki/utils.py
index e7854411b..beb09fce4 100644
--- a/anki/utils.py
+++ b/anki/utils.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def fmtTimeSpan(time, pad=0, point=0, short=False):
         fmt = shortTimeTable[type]
     else:
         fmt = timeTable[type](_pluralCount(round(time, point)))
-    timestr = "%(a)d.%(b)df" % {'a': pad, 'b': point}
+    timestr = _("%(a)d.%(b)df") % {'a': pad, 'b': point}
     return ("%" + (fmt % timestr)) % time
 
 def fmtTimeSpanPair(time1, time2, short=False):
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def fmtTimeSpanPair(time1, time2, short=False):
         fmt = shortTimeTable[type]
     else:
         fmt = timeTable[type](2)
-    timestr = "%(a)d.%(b)df" % {'a': 0, 'b': point}
+    timestr = _("%(a)d.%(b)df") % {'a': 0, 'b': point}
     finalstr = "%s-%s" % (
         ('%' + timestr) % time1,
         ('%' + timestr) % time2)