diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py b/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
index 6301b93a..8c67eedc 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filtersystemd.py
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@ __author__ = "Steven Hiscocks"
 __copyright__ = "Copyright (c) 2013 Steven Hiscocks"
 __license__ = "GPL"
 
-import datetime
 import os
 import time
 from distutils.version import LooseVersion
@@ -254,8 +253,8 @@ class FilterSystemd(JournalFilter): # pragma: systemd no cover
 		return ((logline[:0], date[0], logline.replace('\n', '\\n')), date[1])
 
 	def seekToTime(self, date):
-		if not isinstance(date, datetime.datetime):
-			date = datetime.datetime.fromtimestamp(date)
+		if isinstance(date, (int, long)):
+			date = float(date)
 		self.__journal.seek_realtime(date)
 
 	def inOperationMode(self):
@@ -281,7 +280,8 @@ class FilterSystemd(JournalFilter): # pragma: systemd no cover
 		try:
 			self.__journal.seek_tail()
 			logentry = self.__journal.get_previous()
-			self.__journal.get_next()
+			if logentry:
+				self.__journal.get_next()
 		except OSError:
 			logentry = None # Reading failure, so safe to ignore
 		if logentry:
@@ -296,12 +296,6 @@ class FilterSystemd(JournalFilter): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			self.inOperation = False
 			# Save current time in order to check time to switch "in operation" mode
 			startTime = (1, MyTime.time(), logentry.get('__CURSOR'))
-			# Move back one entry to ensure do not end up in dead space
-			# if start time beyond end of journal
-			try:
-				self.__journal.get_previous()
-			except OSError:
-				pass # Reading failure, so safe to ignore
 		else:
 			# empty journal or no entries for current filter:
 			self.inOperationMode()
@@ -311,6 +305,13 @@ class FilterSystemd(JournalFilter): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			# for possible future switches of in-operation mode:
 			startTime = (0, startTime)
 
+		# Move back one entry to ensure do not end up in dead space
+		# if start time beyond end of journal
+		try:
+			self.__journal.get_previous()
+		except OSError:
+			pass # Reading failure, so safe to ignore
+
 		line = None
 		while self.active:
 			# wait for records (or for timeout in sleeptime seconds):
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
index f9fa5e97..a9641eee 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/filtertestcase.py
@@ -1514,7 +1514,7 @@ def get_monitor_failures_journal_testcase(Filter_): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			# stop:
 			self.filter.stop()
 			self.filter.join()
-			MyTime.setTime(time.time() + 2)
+			MyTime.setTime(time.time() + 10)
 			# update log manually (should cause a seek to end of log without wait for next second):
 			self.jail.database.updateJournal(self.jail, 'systemd-journal', MyTime.time(), 'TEST')
 			# check seek to last (simulated) position succeeds (without bans of previous copied tickets):
@@ -1522,7 +1522,7 @@ def get_monitor_failures_journal_testcase(Filter_): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			self._initFilter()
 			self.filter.setMaxRetry(1)
 			self.filter.start()
-			self.waitForTicks(1)
+			self.waitForTicks(2)
 			# check new IP but no old IPs found:
 			_gen_falure("192.0.2.5")
 			self.assertFalse(self.jail.getFailTicket())
@@ -1535,8 +1535,8 @@ def get_monitor_failures_journal_testcase(Filter_): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			self._initFilter()
 			self.filter.setMaxRetry(1)
 			self.filter.start()
-			self.waitForTicks(1)
-			MyTime.setTime(time.time() + 3)
+			self.waitForTicks(2)
+			MyTime.setTime(time.time() + 20)
 			# check new IP but no old IPs found:
 			_gen_falure("192.0.2.6")
 			self.assertFalse(self.jail.getFailTicket())
@@ -1549,15 +1549,23 @@ def get_monitor_failures_journal_testcase(Filter_): # pragma: systemd no cover
 			self.filter.setMaxRetry(1)
 			states = []
 			def _state(*args):
-				self.assertNotIn("** in operation", states)
-				self.assertFalse(self.filter.inOperation)
-				states.append("** process line: %r" % (args,))
+				try:
+					self.assertNotIn("** in operation", states)
+					self.assertFalse(self.filter.inOperation)
+					states.append("** process line: %r" % (args,))
+				except Exception as e:
+					states.append("** failed: %r" % (e,))
+					raise
 			self.filter.processLineAndAdd = _state
 			def _inoper():
-				self.assertNotIn("** in operation", states)
-				self.assertEqual(len(states), 11)
-				states.append("** in operation")
-				self.filter.__class__.inOperationMode(self.filter)
+				try:
+					self.assertNotIn("** in operation", states)
+					self.assertEqual(len(states), 11)
+					states.append("** in operation")
+					self.filter.__class__.inOperationMode(self.filter)
+				except Exception as e:
+					states.append("** failed: %r" % (e,))
+					raise
 			self.filter.inOperationMode = _inoper
 			self.filter.start()
 			self.waitForTicks(12)