diff --git a/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect b/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect
index aa3bc6a9..e74b2d44 100755
--- a/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect
+++ b/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect
@@ -759,6 +759,23 @@ while [[ ${#} -gt 0 ]] ; do
 done
 
 
+date -d $STARTDATE > /dev/null 2>/dev/null
+rc_start_date=${?}
+date -d $ENDDATE > /dev/null 2>/dev/null
+rc_end_date=${?}
+
+if [ $rc_start_date != 0 ] ; then
+    report_error "the start date is invalid" ${FAIL_INVALID_START_DATE}
+    collect_exit ${FAIL_INVALID_START_DATE}
+elif [ $rc_end_date != 0 ] ; then
+    report_error "the end date is invalid" ${FAIL_INVALID_END_DATE}
+    collect_exit ${FAIL_INVALID_END_DATE}
+elif (( $STARTDATE > $ENDDATE )) ; then
+    report_error "the start date is greater than the end date" ${FAIL_INVALID_DATE_RANGE}
+    collect_exit ${FAIL_INVALID_DATE_RANGE}
+fi
+
+
 # startup state debug logs
 dlog "${TOOL_NAME} ver ${TOOL_REV}.${TOOL_REV} (pid:$$)"
 dlog "USERNAME  = ${USER}"
diff --git a/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect_utils b/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect_utils
index 95f634e6..4a2af19c 100755
--- a/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect_utils
+++ b/tools/collector/debian-scripts/collect_utils
@@ -54,6 +54,10 @@ FAIL_CONTINUE=51
 FAIL_SUBCLOUDNAME=52
 FAIL_NO_SUBCLOUDS=53
 FAIL_NOT_SYSTEMCONTROLLER=54
+FAIL_NAME_TOO_LONG=55
+FAIL_INVALID_START_DATE=56
+FAIL_INVALID_END_DATE=57
+FAIL_INVALID_DATE_RANGE=58
 
 
 # Warnings are above 200
diff --git a/tools/collector/scripts/collect b/tools/collector/scripts/collect
index 1101135f..46aa0281 100755
--- a/tools/collector/scripts/collect
+++ b/tools/collector/scripts/collect
@@ -767,6 +767,22 @@ while [[ ${#} -gt 0 ]] ; do
     shift # past argument or value
 done
 
+date -d $STARTDATE > /dev/null 2>/dev/null
+rc_start_date=${?}
+date -d $ENDDATE > /dev/null 2>/dev/null
+rc_end_date=${?}
+
+if [ $rc_start_date != 0 ] ; then
+    report_error "the start date is invalid" ${FAIL_INVALID_START_DATE}
+    collect_exit ${FAIL_INVALID_START_DATE}
+elif [ $rc_end_date != 0 ] ; then
+    report_error "the end date is invalid" ${FAIL_INVALID_END_DATE}
+    collect_exit ${FAIL_INVALID_END_DATE}
+elif (( $STARTDATE > $ENDDATE )) ; then
+    report_error "the start date is greater than the end date" ${FAIL_INVALID_DATE_RANGE}
+    collect_exit ${FAIL_INVALID_DATE_RANGE}
+fi
+
 
 # startup state debug logs
 dlog "${TOOL_NAME} ver ${TOOL_REV}.${TOOL_REV} (pid:$$)"
diff --git a/tools/collector/scripts/collect_utils b/tools/collector/scripts/collect_utils
index 71e867fc..ef3d8d63 100755
--- a/tools/collector/scripts/collect_utils
+++ b/tools/collector/scripts/collect_utils
@@ -55,6 +55,9 @@ FAIL_SUBCLOUDNAME=52
 FAIL_NO_SUBCLOUDS=53
 FAIL_NOT_SYSTEMCONTROLLER=54
 FAIL_NAME_TOO_LONG=55
+FAIL_INVALID_START_DATE=56
+FAIL_INVALID_END_DATE=57
+FAIL_INVALID_DATE_RANGE=58
 
 
 # Warnings are above 200