diff --git a/modules/backend/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000009_Db_Backend_Timestamp_Fix.php b/modules/backend/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000009_Db_Backend_Timestamp_Fix.php
index 22fd973b8..99fde4cce 100644
--- a/modules/backend/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000009_Db_Backend_Timestamp_Fix.php
+++ b/modules/backend/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000009_Db_Backend_Timestamp_Fix.php
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 use October\Rain\Database\Updates\Migration;
 
+/**
+ * This migration addresses a MySQL specific issue around STRICT MODE.
+ * In past versions, Laravel would give timestamps a bad default value
+ * of "0" considered invalid by MySQL. Strict mode is disabled and the
+ * the timestamps are patched up. Credit for this work: Dave Shoreman.
+ */
 class DbBackendTimestampFix extends Migration
 {
     protected $backendTables = [
@@ -12,9 +18,7 @@ class DbBackendTimestampFix extends Migration
 
     public function up()
     {
-        // Disable all special modes such as NO_ZERO_DATE to prevent any
-        // errors from MySQL before we can update the timestamp columns.
-        Db::statement("SET @@SQL_MODE=''");
+        DbDongle::disableStrictMode();
 
         foreach ($this->backendTables as $table) {
             DbDongle::convertTimestamps($table);
diff --git a/modules/cms/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000002_Db_Cms_Timestamp_Fix.php b/modules/cms/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000002_Db_Cms_Timestamp_Fix.php
index 5a11deb0a..327640e68 100644
--- a/modules/cms/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000002_Db_Cms_Timestamp_Fix.php
+++ b/modules/cms/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000002_Db_Cms_Timestamp_Fix.php
@@ -2,13 +2,18 @@
 
 use October\Rain\Database\Updates\Migration;
 
+/**
+ * This migration addresses a MySQL specific issue around STRICT MODE.
+ * In past versions, Laravel would give timestamps a bad default value
+ * of "0" considered invalid by MySQL. Strict mode is disabled and the
+ * the timestamps are patched up. Credit for this work: Dave Shoreman.
+ */
 class DbCmsTimestampFix extends Migration
 {
     public function up()
     {
-        // Disable all special modes such as NO_ZERO_DATE to prevent any
-        // errors from MySQL before we can update the timestamp columns.
-        Db::statement("SET @@SQL_MODE=''");
+        DbDongle::disableStrictMode();
+
         DbDongle::convertTimestamps('cms_theme_data');
     }
 
diff --git a/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000019_Db_System_Plugin_History_Detail_Text.php b/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000019_Db_System_Plugin_History_Detail_Text.php
index a63c1babb..4334a1c13 100644
--- a/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000019_Db_System_Plugin_History_Detail_Text.php
+++ b/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000019_Db_System_Plugin_History_Detail_Text.php
@@ -7,6 +7,9 @@ class DbSystemPluginHistoryDetailText extends Migration
 {
     public function up()
     {
+        // Migration occurs before timestamps are patched (see next migration)
+        DbDongle::disableStrictMode();
+
         Schema::table('system_plugin_history', function (Blueprint $table) {
             $table->text('detail')->nullable()->change();
         });
diff --git a/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000020_Db_System_Timestamp_Fix.php b/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000020_Db_System_Timestamp_Fix.php
index a42fbea54..5a2c8d4a9 100644
--- a/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000020_Db_System_Timestamp_Fix.php
+++ b/modules/system/database/migrations/2016_10_01_000020_Db_System_Timestamp_Fix.php
@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 use October\Rain\Database\Updates\Migration;
 
+/**
+ * This migration addresses a MySQL specific issue around STRICT MODE.
+ * In past versions, Laravel would give timestamps a bad default value
+ * of "0" considered invalid by MySQL. Strict mode is disabled and the
+ * the timestamps are patched up. Credit for this work: Dave Shoreman.
+ */
 class DbSystemTimestampFix extends Migration
 {
     protected $coreTables = [
@@ -19,9 +25,7 @@ class DbSystemTimestampFix extends Migration
 
     public function up()
     {
-        // Disable all special modes such as NO_ZERO_DATE to prevent any
-        // errors from MySQL before we can update the timestamp columns.
-        Db::statement("SET @@SQL_MODE=''");
+        DbDongle::disableStrictMode();
 
         foreach ($this->coreTables as $table => $columns) {
             if (is_int($table)) {