diff --git a/anki/sync.py b/anki/sync.py
index 75c9deed2..aed9468c7 100644
--- a/anki/sync.py
+++ b/anki/sync.py
@@ -538,7 +538,7 @@ values
             s['day'] = s['day'].toordinal()
             del s['id']
             return s
-        lastDay = date.fromtimestamp(self.deck.lastSync - 60*60*24)
+        lastDay = date.fromtimestamp(max(0, self.deck.lastSync - 60*60*24))
         ids = self.deck.s.column0(
             "select id from stats where type = 1 and day >= :day", day=lastDay)
         stat = Stats()
diff --git a/anki/utils.py b/anki/utils.py
index eaecc9b0f..9dc4166ab 100644
--- a/anki/utils.py
+++ b/anki/utils.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ def parseTags(tags):
     return tags
 
 def joinTags(tags):
-    return ", ".join(tags)
+    return u", ".join(tags)
 
 def findTag(tag, tags):
     "True if TAG is in TAGS. Ignore case."