diff --git a/node/TimesliderMessageHandler.js b/node/TimesliderMessageHandler.js
index 7241d966c..b61de6d9b 100644
--- a/node/TimesliderMessageHandler.js
+++ b/node/TimesliderMessageHandler.js
@@ -163,10 +163,17 @@ function createTimesliderClientVars (padId, callback)
         callback(err);
       });
     },
+    //get the timestamp of the last revision
+    function(callback)
+    {
+      pad.getRevisionDate(pad.getHeadRevisionNumber(), function(err, date)
+      {
+        clientVars.currentTime = date;
+        callback(err);
+      });
+    },
     function(callback)
     {
-      //currentTime: rev.timestamp,
-    
       //get the head revision Number
       var lastRev = pad.getHeadRevisionNumber();
       
diff --git a/static/js/broadcast.js b/static/js/broadcast.js
index c29c24479..442c52ced 100644
--- a/static/js/broadcast.js
+++ b/static/js/broadcast.js
@@ -342,6 +342,8 @@ function loadBroadcastJS()
     $('#revision_date').html(revisionDate)
 
   }
+  
+  updateTimer();
 
   function goToRevision(newRevision)
   {
diff --git a/static/timeslider.html b/static/timeslider.html
index f45439fee..8fad34021 100644
--- a/static/timeslider.html
+++ b/static/timeslider.html
@@ -223,9 +223,7 @@
 
         <div id="timeslider-right"></div>
 
-        <div id="timer">
-          06/14/2011 19:29:04
-        </div>
+        <div id="timer"></div>
 
         <div id="timeslider-slider">
           <div id="ui-slider-handle"></div>