diff --git a/app/helpers/welcome_helper.rb b/app/helpers/welcome_helper.rb
index 83d6c4e17..a182a01c9 100644
--- a/app/helpers/welcome_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/welcome_helper.rb
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ module WelcomeHelper
   end
   
   def topic_last_time topic
-    return topic.event_datetime unless topic.methods.to_s =~ %r[last_reply]
+    return topic.event_datetime if ( !(topic.methods.to_s =~ %r[last_reply]) && topic.last_reply.nil? )
     topic.last_reply.event_datetime
   end