diff --git a/apps/logbook/src/components/configure/LogbookConfiguration.tsx b/apps/logbook/src/components/configure/LogbookConfiguration.tsx
index 18d49d097c31bd2bff3435a1d7c2cb85abde6f13..15ad6c3e38cde0085e2eaa942ec96e5ecc9ccf47 100644
--- a/apps/logbook/src/components/configure/LogbookConfiguration.tsx
+++ b/apps/logbook/src/components/configure/LogbookConfiguration.tsx
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ export function LogbookConfiguration({
     [filters, onUpdate],
   );
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (!filters.startTime) {
+    if (showStaffSection && !filters.startTime) {
       const now = new Date();
       const monthsBefore = new Date(now);
       monthsBefore.setMonth(
@@ -60,7 +60,12 @@ export function LogbookConfiguration({
       const formattedDate = formatDateTimeToIcatDate(monthsBefore);
       setStartTime(formattedDate);
     }
-  }, [setStartTime, filters, config.ui.logbook.defaultMonthPeriodForStaff]);
+  }, [
+    setStartTime,
+    filters,
+    config.ui.logbook.defaultMonthPeriodForStaff,
+    showStaffSection,
+  ]);
   return (
     <Col>
       <SideNavFilter label="Search">