diff --git a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/app/store/middleware/listenerMiddleware/listeners/appStarted.ts b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/app/store/middleware/listenerMiddleware/listeners/appStarted.ts
index 60a5310fcd..1bc9e297af 100644
--- a/invokeai/frontend/web/src/app/store/middleware/listenerMiddleware/listeners/appStarted.ts
+++ b/invokeai/frontend/web/src/app/store/middleware/listenerMiddleware/listeners/appStarted.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,29 @@
 import { createAction } from '@reduxjs/toolkit';
 import type { AppStartListening } from 'app/store/middleware/listenerMiddleware';
+import { selectLastSelectedImage } from 'features/gallery/store/gallerySelectors';
+import { imageSelected } from 'features/gallery/store/gallerySlice';
+import { imagesApi } from 'services/api/endpoints/images';
 
 export const appStarted = createAction('app/appStarted');
 
 export const addAppStartedListener = (startAppListening: AppStartListening) => {
   startAppListening({
     actionCreator: appStarted,
-    effect: (action, { unsubscribe, cancelActiveListeners }) => {
+    effect: async (action, { unsubscribe, cancelActiveListeners, take, getState, dispatch }) => {
       // this should only run once
       cancelActiveListeners();
       unsubscribe();
+
+      // ensure an image is selected when we load the first board
+      const firstImageLoad = await take(imagesApi.endpoints.getImageNames.matchFulfilled);
+      if (firstImageLoad !== null) {
+        const [{ payload }] = firstImageLoad;
+        const selectedImage = selectLastSelectedImage(getState());
+        if (selectedImage) {
+          return;
+        }
+        dispatch(imageSelected(payload.image_names.at(0) ?? null));
+      }
     },
   });
 };