diff --git a/app/services/issues/build_service.rb b/app/services/issues/build_service.rb
index 77bced4bd5c..7b5858a8ccb 100644
--- a/app/services/issues/build_service.rb
+++ b/app/services/issues/build_service.rb
@@ -35,14 +35,17 @@ module Issues
     end
 
     def item_for_discussion(discussion)
-      first_note = discussion.first_note_to_resolve || discussion.first_note
+      first_note_to_resolve = discussion.first_note_to_resolve || discussion.first_note
       other_note_count = discussion.notes.size - 1
-      note_url = Gitlab::UrlBuilder.build(first_note)
+      note_url = Gitlab::UrlBuilder.build(first_note_to_resolve)
 
-      discussion_info = "- [ ] #{first_note.author.to_reference} commented on a [discussion](#{note_url}): "
+      is_very_first_note = first_note_to_resolve == discussion.first_note
+      action = is_very_first_note ? "started" : "commented on"
+      
+      discussion_info = "- [ ] #{first_note_to_resolve.author.to_reference} #{action} a [discussion](#{note_url}): "
       discussion_info << " (+#{other_note_count} #{'comment'.pluralize(other_note_count)})" if other_note_count > 0
 
-      note_without_block_quotes = Banzai::Filter::BlockquoteFenceFilter.new(first_note.note).call
+      note_without_block_quotes = Banzai::Filter::BlockquoteFenceFilter.new(first_note_to_resolve.note).call
       spaces = ' ' * 4
       quote = note_without_block_quotes.lines.map { |line| "#{spaces}> #{line}" }.join