diff --git a/src/progress.scm b/src/progress.scm
index 35d4ed7..0d33e3c 100644
--- a/src/progress.scm
+++ b/src/progress.scm
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@
    (when (*current-progress%*)
      (*current-progress%-value* new-value)
      (let ((old-value (*current-progress%-last-value*)))
-       (when (>= (abs (- new-value old-value)) (*progress%-step*))
+       (when (or (not old-value)
+		 (>= (abs (- new-value old-value)) (*progress%-step*)))
 	 (*current-progress%-last-value* new-value)
 	 (print-current-progress%)))))
 
@@ -142,7 +143,7 @@
  (define (run-with-progress% echo? name thunk)
    (parameterize ((*current-progress%* name)
 		  (*current-progress%-echo?* echo?)
-		  (*current-progress%-value* 0)
+		  (*current-progress%-value* #f)
 		  (*current-progress%-last-value* 0)
 		  (*current-progress%-range* (cons 0 1)))
      (print-current-progress%)