diff --git a/src/ios/CDVBattery.m b/src/ios/CDVBattery.m
index e2f162b..444d73d 100644
--- a/src/ios/CDVBattery.m
+++ b/src/ios/CDVBattery.m
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ - (void)start:(CDVInvokedUrlCommand*)command
         [[NSNotificationCenter defaultCenter] addObserver:self selector:@selector(updateBatteryStatus:)
                                                      name:UIDeviceBatteryLevelDidChangeNotification object:nil];
     }
+    // push out the first update immediately
+    [self updateBatteryStatus:nil];
 }
 
 /* turn off battery monitoring */