--- a/panel-plugin/main.c
+++ b/panel-plugin/main.c
@@ -836,6 +836,8 @@
 
     SetMonitorFont (genmon);
 
+    SetTimer(genmon);
+
     g_signal_connect (plugin, "free-data", G_CALLBACK (genmon_free), genmon);
 
     g_signal_connect (plugin, "save", G_CALLBACK (genmon_write_config),