diff --git a/block_course_overview_uwmoodle.php b/block_course_overview_uwmoodle.php
index c4a9939a41fc4c2ec4ed76cd79311a0ca167edb9..6b307e27b030dd4e53d580d9182103832610d4ce 100644
--- a/block_course_overview_uwmoodle.php
+++ b/block_course_overview_uwmoodle.php
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ class block_course_overview_uwmoodle extends block_base {
                     $showhidehtml = '';
                     if ($hasnews) {
                         $defaultshownews = ($termcode == $currentterm || $termcode == self::TERM_OTHER)? 1 : 0;
-                        $shownews = get_user_preferences('block_course_overview_uwmoodle-show-coursenews-'.$course->id, 1);
+                        $shownews = get_user_preferences('block_course_overview_uwmoodle-show-coursenews-'.$course->id, $defaultshownews);
                         $yuiitems[] = "coursenews-$course->id";
                         $showhidenewsurl = $PAGE->url->out_as_local_url(true, array('uwmcourse' => $course->id, 'uwmshow' => ($shownews)? 0 : 1));
                         if (!$shownews) {