diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index b71131df..a54ec026 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 Changelog
 =========
 
+8.24.5
+------
+* fix: visual stimulus not showing for first trial
+
 8.24.4
 ------
 * fix: correct gain for rotary encoder thresholds in trainingChoiceWorld
diff --git a/iblrig/__init__.py b/iblrig/__init__.py
index 6c5aad42..2e85cf79 100644
--- a/iblrig/__init__.py
+++ b/iblrig/__init__.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 # 5) git tag the release in accordance to the version number below (after merge!)
 # >>> git tag 8.15.6
 # >>> git push origin --tags
-__version__ = '8.24.4'
+__version__ = '8.24.5'
 
 
 from iblrig.version_management import get_detailed_version_string
diff --git a/iblrig/base_tasks.py b/iblrig/base_tasks.py
index 07d5e43c..3582003d 100644
--- a/iblrig/base_tasks.py
+++ b/iblrig/base_tasks.py
@@ -906,6 +906,8 @@ def choice_world_visual_stimulus(self):
             'Stim.TranslationZ': -self.task_params.STIM_TRANSLATION_Z,  # MINUS!!
         }
         call_bonsai(workflow_file, parameters, wait=False, editor=self.task_params.BONSAI_EDITOR, bootstrap=False)
+        log.info('Giving Bonsai some extra time to start ...')
+        time.sleep(5)
         log.info('Bonsai visual stimulus module loaded: OK')