diff --git a/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js b/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js
index fa606193f..c36f5532d 100644
--- a/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js
+++ b/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js
@@ -420,6 +420,7 @@ const EndSessionDialog = new Lang.Class({
     _startTimer: function() {
         let startTime = GLib.get_monotonic_time();
         this._secondsLeft = this._totalSecondsToStayOpen;
+        this._updateDescription();
 
         this._timerId = Mainloop.timeout_add_seconds(1, Lang.bind(this,
             function() {