diff --git a/frontend/app/projects/controller.js b/frontend/app/projects/controller.js
index 0210eef9c..844f151ab 100644
--- a/frontend/app/projects/controller.js
+++ b/frontend/app/projects/controller.js
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ export default class ProjectsController extends Controller {
   updateRemainingEffort(changeset) {
     if (
       changeset.get("project.remainingEffortTracking") &&
-      !changeset.get("mostRecentRemainingEffort")
+      this.selectedTask.isNew
     ) {
       changeset.set(
         "mostRecentRemainingEffort",