diff --git a/static/js/pages/build-view.js b/static/js/pages/build-view.js
index ad62c24e0..77f0f503e 100644
--- a/static/js/pages/build-view.js
+++ b/static/js/pages/build-view.js
@@ -15,7 +15,11 @@
     $scope.name = $routeParams.name;
     $scope.build_uuid = $routeParams.buildid;
 
-    $scope.showLogTimestamps = CookieService.get('quay.showBuildLogTimestamps') == 'true';
+    if (!CookieService.get('quay.showBuildLogTimestamps')) {
+      $scope.showLogTimestamps = true;
+    } else {
+      $scope.showLogTimestamps = CookieService.get('quay.showBuildLogTimestamps') == 'true';
+    }
 
     var loadBuild = function() {
       var params = {