diff --git a/changes/bug22885 b/changes/bug22885
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..d95e879eb8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changes/bug22885
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+  o Minor bugfixes (relay):
+    - When uploading our descriptor for the first time after startup,
+      report the reason for uploading as "Tor just started" rather than
+      leaving it blank. Fixes bug 22885; bugfix on 0.2.3.4-alpha.
+
diff --git a/src/or/router.c b/src/or/router.c
index 1b81a228af..7fad572657 100644
--- a/src/or/router.c
+++ b/src/or/router.c
@@ -1856,7 +1856,7 @@ static const char *desc_gen_reason = NULL;
  * now. */
 static time_t desc_clean_since = 0;
 /** Why did we mark the descriptor dirty? */
-static const char *desc_dirty_reason = NULL;
+static const char *desc_dirty_reason = "Tor just started";
 /** Boolean: do we need to regenerate the above? */
 static int desc_needs_upload = 0;