diff --git a/www/kojiweb/index.py b/www/kojiweb/index.py
index 89930ca5..512f9652 100644
--- a/www/kojiweb/index.py
+++ b/www/kojiweb/index.py
@@ -1182,7 +1182,7 @@ def buildinfo(environ, buildID):
         if not values.has_key(field):
             values[field] = None
 
-    values['start_time'] = build['creation_time']
+    values['start_time'] = build.get('start_time') or build['creation_time']
     # the build start time is not accurate for maven and win builds, get it from the
     # task start time instead
     if mavenbuild or winbuild: