diff --git a/dashboard/src/models/AppsModel.js b/dashboard/src/models/AppsModel.js
index 8cc32ec5b..034863bbf 100644
--- a/dashboard/src/models/AppsModel.js
+++ b/dashboard/src/models/AppsModel.js
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ function create() {
     } else {
       const task = await getTask(app.id);
       if (task) {
-        app.progress = task.percent;
+        app.progress = task.percent || 5; // avoid starting with empty
         app.message = task.message;
         app.taskMinutesActive = moment.duration(moment.utc().diff(moment.utc(task.creationTime))).asMinutes();
       } else {