diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/models.py b/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/models.py
index 4641736add..cfa243c595 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/models.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/orm/models.py
@@ -628,6 +628,17 @@ class Build(models.Model):
         return self.outcome == Build.IN_PROGRESS and \
             self.recipes_parsed < self.recipes_to_parse
 
+    def is_starting(self):
+        """
+        True if the build has no completed tasks yet and is still just starting
+        tasks.
+
+        Note that the mechanism for testing whether a Task is "done" is whether
+        its order field is set, as per the completeper() method.
+        """
+        return self.outcome == Build.IN_PROGRESS and \
+            self.task_build.filter(order__isnull=False).count() == 0
+
     def get_state(self):
         """
         Get the state of the build; one of 'Succeeded', 'Failed', 'In Progress',
@@ -643,6 +654,8 @@ class Build(models.Model):
             return 'Queued'
         elif self.is_parsing():
             return 'Parsing'
+        elif self.is_starting():
+            return 'Starting'
         else:
             return self.get_outcome_text()
 
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/mrb_section.html b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/mrb_section.html
index 880485d45f..b74f723932 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/mrb_section.html
+++ b/bitbake/lib/toaster/toastergui/templates/mrb_section.html
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@
     <%include tmpl='#succeeded-or-failed-build-template'/%>
   <%else state == 'Cancelling'%>
     <%include tmpl='#cancelling-build-template'/%>
+  <%else state == 'Starting'%>
+    <%include tmpl='#starting-template'/%>
   <%else state == 'In Progress'%>
     <%include tmpl='#in-progress-build-template'/%>
   <%else state == 'Cancelled'%>
@@ -81,8 +83,9 @@
 <!-- queued build -->
 <script id="queued-build-template" type="text/x-jsrender">
   <div class="col-md-5">
-    <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign get-help get-help-blue" title="This build is waiting for
-the build directory to become available"></span>
+    <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign get-help get-help-blue"
+          title="This build is waiting for the build directory to become available">
+    </span>
 
     Build queued
   </div>
@@ -108,7 +111,8 @@ the build directory to become available"></span>
 
   <div class="col-md-4 progress-info">
     <!-- parse completion percentage -->
-    <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign get-help get-help-blue" title="BitBake is parsing the layers required for your build"></span>
+    <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign get-help get-help-blue" title="BitBake is parsing the layers required for your build">
+    </span>
 
     Parsing <span id="recipes-parsed-percentage-<%:id%>"><%:recipes_parsed_percentage%></span>% complete
 
@@ -116,7 +120,23 @@ the build directory to become available"></span>
   </div>
 </script>
 
-<!-- in progress build -->
+<!-- in progress build; tasks still starting -->
+<script id="starting-template" type="text/x-jsrender">
+  <div class="col-md-5">
+    <span class="glyphicon glyphicon-question-sign get-help get-help-blue"
+          title="This build is waiting for tasks to start">
+    </span>
+
+    Tasks starting...
+  </div>
+
+  <div class="col-md-4">
+    <!-- cancel button -->
+    <%include tmpl='#cancel-template'/%>
+  </div>
+</script>
+
+<!-- in progress build; at least one task finished -->
 <script id="in-progress-build-template" type="text/x-jsrender">
   <!-- progress bar and task completion percentage -->
   <div data-role="build-status" class="col-md-4 col-md-offset-1 progress-info">