diff --git a/ietf/group/forms.py b/ietf/group/forms.py
index 53605d61f..99650eb51 100644
--- a/ietf/group/forms.py
+++ b/ietf/group/forms.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from __future__ import absolute_import, print_function, unicode_literals
 
 # Stdlib imports
+import datetime
 import re
 
 import debug      # pyflakes:ignore
@@ -297,7 +298,7 @@ class AddUnavailablePeriodForm(forms.ModelForm):
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super(AddUnavailablePeriodForm, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
-        self.fields["start_date"] = DatepickerDateField(date_format="yyyy-mm-dd", picker_settings={"autoclose": "1" }, label=self.fields["start_date"].label, help_text=self.fields["start_date"].help_text, required=self.fields["start_date"].required)
+        self.fields["start_date"] = DatepickerDateField(date_format="yyyy-mm-dd", picker_settings={"autoclose": "1" }, label=self.fields["start_date"].label, help_text=self.fields["start_date"].help_text, required=self.fields["start_date"].required, initial=datetime.date.today())
         self.fields["end_date"] = DatepickerDateField(date_format="yyyy-mm-dd", picker_settings={"autoclose": "1" }, label=self.fields["end_date"].label, help_text=self.fields["end_date"].help_text, required=self.fields["end_date"].required)
 
         self.fields['availability'].widget = forms.RadioSelect(choices=UnavailablePeriod.LONG_AVAILABILITY_CHOICES)
diff --git a/ietf/group/tests_review.py b/ietf/group/tests_review.py
index bd8845ae7..cad0ff42a 100644
--- a/ietf/group/tests_review.py
+++ b/ietf/group/tests_review.py
@@ -310,6 +310,7 @@ class ReviewTests(TestCase):
         # get
         r = self.client.get(url)
         self.assertEqual(r.status_code, 200)
+        self.assertEqual(r.context['period_form']['start_date'].initial, datetime.date.today())
 
         # set settings
         empty_outbox()
diff --git a/ietf/review/models.py b/ietf/review/models.py
index 88fd823d0..a701e6f0d 100644
--- a/ietf/review/models.py
+++ b/ietf/review/models.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class ReviewSecretarySettings(models.Model):
 class UnavailablePeriod(models.Model):
     team         = ForeignKey(Group, limit_choices_to=~models.Q(reviewteamsettings=None))
     person       = ForeignKey(Person)
-    start_date   = models.DateField(default=datetime.date.today, null=True, help_text="Choose the start date so that you can still do a review if it's assigned just before the start date - this usually means you should mark yourself unavailable for assignment some time before you are actually away.")
+    start_date   = models.DateField(default=datetime.date.today, null=True, help_text="Choose the start date so that you can still do a review if it's assigned just before the start date - this usually means you should mark yourself unavailable for assignment some time before you are actually away. The default is today.")
     end_date     = models.DateField(blank=True, null=True, help_text="Leaving the end date blank means that the period continues indefinitely. You can end it later.")
     AVAILABILITY_CHOICES = [
         ("canfinish", "Can do follow-ups"),