diff --git a/bin/weewx/wxengine.py b/bin/weewx/wxengine.py
index 11fc6e2e..6bac4fa7 100644
--- a/bin/weewx/wxengine.py
+++ b/bin/weewx/wxengine.py
@@ -588,9 +588,18 @@ class StdTimeSynch(StdService):
         self.clock_check = int(config_dict['Station'].get('clock_check', 14400))
         self.max_drift   = int(config_dict['Station'].get('max_drift', 5))
         
+        self.bind(weewx.STARTUP,  self.startup)
         self.bind(weewx.PRE_LOOP, self.pre_loop)
+    
+    def startup(self, event):
+        """Called when the engine is starting up."""
+        self.do_sync()
         
     def pre_loop(self, event):
+        """Called before the main event loop is started."""
+        self.do_sync()
+        
+    def do_sync(self):
         """Ask the station to synch up if enough time has passed."""
         # Synch up the station's clock if it's been more than clock_check
         # seconds since the last check:
diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index 9bc1906d..38077e76 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -1,6 +1,13 @@
 weewx change history
 --------------------
 
+2.3.4 07/XX/13
+
+The service StdTimeSync now catches startup events and syncs the clock
+on them. It has now been moved to the beginning of the list "service_list"
+in weewx.conf. Users may want to do the same with their configuration file.
+
+
 2.3.3 06/21/13
 
 The option week_start now works.
diff --git a/docs/upgrading.htm b/docs/upgrading.htm
index e4e12626..0beb547e 100644
--- a/docs/upgrading.htm
+++ b/docs/upgrading.htm
@@ -134,6 +134,20 @@ Version: 2.3.3
     <p class='tty'>warning: /etc/weewx/weewx.conf created as /etc/weewx/weewx.conf.rpmnew</p>
 
     <h1><a name="Instructions_for_specific_versions">Instructions for specific versions</a></h1>
+	<h2>V2.3.3 or earlier</h2>
+	<p>The service <span class="code">StdTimeSync</span> now synchronizes the 
+	console's onboard clock on startup. This is nice because if the clock 
+	failed, perhaps because the battery was taken out, the time is corrected 
+	first <em>before</em> data is downloaded from the logger's memory. To take 
+	advantage of this, you can move service <span class="code">StdTimeSync</span> 
+	to the front of the list of services to be run:</p>
+	<p class="tty">&nbsp;[[WxEngine]]<br />
+	# The list of services the main weewx engine should run:<br />
+	service_list = <span class="highlight">weewx.wxengine.StdTimeSynch</span>, 
+	weewx.wxengine.StdConvert, weewx.wxengine.StdCalibrate, 
+	weewx.wxengine.StdQC, weewx.wxengine.StdArchive, weewx.wxengine.StdPrint, 
+	weewx.wxengine.StdRESTful, weewx.wxengine.StdReport<br />
+	</p>
 	<h2>V2.3 or earlier</h2>
 	<p>The option <span class="code">time_length</span> will now be the exact 
 	length of the resultant plot. Before, a plot with <span class="code">
diff --git a/weewx.conf b/weewx.conf
index 67f487df..09404d37 100644
--- a/weewx.conf
+++ b/weewx.conf
@@ -529,4 +529,4 @@ version = 2.3.3
 
     [[WxEngine]]
         # The list of services the main weewx engine should run:
-        service_list = weewx.wxengine.StdConvert, weewx.wxengine.StdCalibrate, weewx.wxengine.StdQC, weewx.wxengine.StdArchive, weewx.wxengine.StdTimeSynch, weewx.wxengine.StdPrint, weewx.wxengine.StdRESTful, weewx.wxengine.StdReport
+        service_list = weewx.wxengine.StdTimeSynch, weewx.wxengine.StdConvert, weewx.wxengine.StdCalibrate, weewx.wxengine.StdQC, weewx.wxengine.StdArchive, weewx.wxengine.StdPrint, weewx.wxengine.StdRESTful, weewx.wxengine.StdReport