diff --git a/libs/remixd/src/services/truffleClient.ts b/libs/remixd/src/services/truffleClient.ts
index f5df4613d7..2921b9c5b3 100644
--- a/libs/remixd/src/services/truffleClient.ts
+++ b/libs/remixd/src/services/truffleClient.ts
@@ -88,6 +88,8 @@ export class TruffleClient extends PluginClient {
       }
       this.watcher.on('change', async (f: string) => processArtifact())
       this.watcher.on('add', async (f: string) => processArtifact())
+      // process the artifact on activation
+      processArtifact()
     } catch (e) {
       console.log(e)
     }