diff --git a/lib/awful/widget/progressbar.lua.in b/lib/awful/widget/progressbar.lua.in
index 931924e51..0d2a2ef33 100644
--- a/lib/awful/widget/progressbar.lua.in
+++ b/lib/awful/widget/progressbar.lua.in
@@ -116,6 +116,7 @@ end
 function set_value(pbar, value)
     local value = value or 0
     data[pbar].value = math.min(1, math.max(0, value))
+    update(pbar)
     return pbar
 end