diff --git a/lib/awful/widget/tasklist.lua b/lib/awful/widget/tasklist.lua
index 6f72a66e5..cbc4cb964 100644
--- a/lib/awful/widget/tasklist.lua
+++ b/lib/awful/widget/tasklist.lua
@@ -161,8 +161,8 @@ function tasklist.new(screen, filter, buttons, style, update_function, base_widg
         -- Add a delayed callback for the first update.
         if not queued_update then
             timer.delayed_call(function()
+                queued_update = false
                 tasklist_update(screen, w, buttons, filter, data, style, uf)
-                queued_update = nil
             end)
             queued_update = true
         end