diff --git a/src/panelWebView/components/Fields/DateTimeField.tsx b/src/panelWebView/components/Fields/DateTimeField.tsx
index 2354b4f7..42f244d8 100644
--- a/src/panelWebView/components/Fields/DateTimeField.tsx
+++ b/src/panelWebView/components/Fields/DateTimeField.tsx
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ export const DateTimeField: React.FunctionComponent<IDateTimeFieldProps> = ({lab
       
       <div className={`metadata_field__datetime`}>
         <DatePicker
-          selected={dateValue as Date || null}
+          selected={dateValue as Date || new Date()}
           onChange={onDateChange}
           timeInputLabel="Time:"
           dateFormat={format || "MM/dd/yyyy HH:mm"}