diff --git a/adafruit_progressbar.py b/adafruit_progressbar.py
index 6eea67c..c9fb609 100755
--- a/adafruit_progressbar.py
+++ b/adafruit_progressbar.py
@@ -83,8 +83,9 @@ def __init__(
         self._width = width
         self._height = height
 
-        self._progress_val = progress
+        self._progress_val = 0.0
         self.progress = self._progress_val
+        self.progress = progress
 
         # draw outline rectangle
         for _w in range(width):