diff --git a/python/lightning_sdk/cli/vm/list.py b/python/lightning_sdk/cli/vm/list.py
index ba1a73c4..7e744337 100644
--- a/python/lightning_sdk/cli/vm/list.py
+++ b/python/lightning_sdk/cli/vm/list.py
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 """VM list command."""
 
+from datetime import datetime
 from typing import Optional
 
 import rich_click as click
@@ -39,7 +40,7 @@ def list_vms(teamspace: Optional[str] = None, all_teamspaces: bool = False) -> N
     table.add_column("SSH host", no_wrap=True)
 
     for resolved_teamspace, vm in sorted(rows, key=lambda row: row[1].name or ""):
-        created = vm.created_at.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M") if vm.created_at else ""
+        created = _created_label(vm.created_at)
         table.add_row(
             vm.name or "",
             f"{resolved_teamspace.owner.name}/{resolved_teamspace.name}",
@@ -50,3 +51,11 @@ def list_vms(teamspace: Optional[str] = None, all_teamspaces: bool = False) -> N
         )
 
     click.echo(rich_to_str(table), color=True)
+
+
+def _created_label(value: object) -> str:
+    if not value:
+        return ""
+    if isinstance(value, datetime):
+        return value.strftime("%Y-%m-%d %H:%M")
+    return str(value)[:16].replace("T", " ")
diff --git a/python/tests/cli/vm/test_vm.py b/python/tests/cli/vm/test_vm.py
index 0019eea6..2aa9af62 100644
--- a/python/tests/cli/vm/test_vm.py
+++ b/python/tests/cli/vm/test_vm.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import re
+from datetime import datetime
 from types import SimpleNamespace
 from unittest.mock import MagicMock
 
@@ -100,8 +101,21 @@ def test_create_surfaces_server_message(monkeypatch) -> None:
 def test_list_renders_table(monkeypatch) -> None:
     api = MagicMock()
     api.list_vms.return_value = [
-        V1Instance(id="vm-1", name="sim-1", status="running", instance_type="lit-h100-1", ssh_host="1.2.3.4"),
-        V1Instance(id="vm-2", name="sim-2", status="pending", instance_type="lit-h100-8"),
+        V1Instance(
+            id="vm-1",
+            name="sim-1",
+            status="running",
+            instance_type="lit-h100-1",
+            ssh_host="1.2.3.4",
+            created_at="2026-09-15T16:00:01.225419Z",
+        ),
+        V1Instance(
+            id="vm-2",
+            name="sim-2",
+            status="pending",
+            instance_type="lit-h100-8",
+            created_at=datetime(2026, 9, 14, 8, 30),
+        ),
     ]
     monkeypatch.setattr("lightning_sdk.cli.vm.list.iter_teamspaces", lambda teamspace, all_teamspaces: [_teamspace()])
     monkeypatch.setattr("lightning_sdk.cli.vm.list.VMApi", MagicMock(return_value=api))
@@ -114,6 +128,8 @@ def test_list_renders_table(monkeypatch) -> None:
     assert "running" in result.output
     assert "1.2.3.4" in result.output
     assert "lit-h100-8" in result.output
+    assert "2026-09-15 16:00" in result.output
+    assert "2026-09-14 08:30" in result.output
     api.list_vms.assert_called_once_with("ts-1")