diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/date.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/date.py
index 47bdd8b722..e6307827da 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/date.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/ifcopenshell/util/date.py
@@ -81,13 +81,15 @@ def readable_ifc_duration(duration):
     for designator in ("Y", "M", "W", "D"):
         if designator in period_duration:
             value, period_duration = period_duration.split(designator)
-            result.append(f"{value}{designator}")
+            if int(value):
+                result.append(f"{value}{designator}")
 
     if time_duration:
         for designator in ("H", "M", "S"):
             if designator in time_duration:
                 value, time_duration = time_duration.split(designator)
-                result.append(f"{value}{designator.lower()}")
+                if int(value):
+                    result.append(f"{value}{designator.lower()}")
     return " ".join(result)
 
 
diff --git a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_date.py b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_date.py
index 8be56c3b01..b96e2066dc 100644
--- a/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_date.py
+++ b/src/ifcopenshell-python/test/util/test_date.py
@@ -23,5 +23,6 @@ import ifcopenshell.util.date as subject
 
 class TestReadableIFCDuration():
     def test_run(self):
+        assert subject.readable_ifc_duration("P0Y0M1DT16H0M0S") == "1D 16h"
         assert subject.readable_ifc_duration("P2Y3M1W4DT5H45M30S") == "2Y 3M 1W 4D 5h 45m 30s"
         assert subject.readable_ifc_duration("PT40H") == "40h"