diff --git a/zipline/algorithm.py b/zipline/algorithm.py
index a7dce8e2..7797798c 100644
--- a/zipline/algorithm.py
+++ b/zipline/algorithm.py
@@ -784,6 +784,8 @@ class TradingAlgorithm(object):
         assert date_copy.tzinfo == pytz.utc, \
             "Algorithm should have a utc datetime"
         if tz is not None:
+            if isinstance(tz, basestring):
+                tz = pytz.timezone(tz)
             date_copy = date_copy.astimezone(tz)
         return date_copy