diff --git a/anki/utils.py b/anki/utils.py
index 10c0598f3..9e811efc7 100644
--- a/anki/utils.py
+++ b/anki/utils.py
@@ -50,8 +50,8 @@ def fmtTimeSpan(time, pad=0, point=0, short=False):
         fmt = shortTimeTable[type]
     else:
         fmt = timeTable[type](_pluralCount(round(time, point)))
-    timestr = locale.format("%(a)d.%(b)df", {'a': pad, 'b': point})
-    return ("%" + (fmt % timestr)) % time
+    timestr = "%(a)d.%(b)df" % {'a': pad, 'b': point}
+    return locale.format("%" + (fmt % timestr), time)
 
 def fmtTimeSpanPair(time1, time2, short=False):
     (type, point) = optimalPeriod(time1, 0)
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ def fmtTimeSpanPair(time1, time2, short=False):
         fmt = shortTimeTable[type]
     else:
         fmt = timeTable[type](2)
-    timestr = locale.format("%(a)d.%(b)df", {'a': pad, 'b': point})
+    timestr = "%(a)d.%(b)df" % {'a': pad, 'b': point}
     finalstr = "%s-%s" % (
-        ('%' + timestr) % time1,
-        ('%' + timestr) % time2)
+        locale.format('%' + timestr, time1),
+        locale.format('%' + timestr, time2),)
     return fmt % finalstr
 
 def optimalPeriod(time, point):