diff --git a/substrate/client/cli/src/lib.rs b/substrate/client/cli/src/lib.rs
index 2ea59129ea..1acd5ee604 100644
--- a/substrate/client/cli/src/lib.rs
+++ b/substrate/client/cli/src/lib.rs
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ pub fn init_logger(pattern: &str) {
 					format!("{}", Colour::Blue.bold().paint(x))
 				});
 			let millis = (now.tm_nsec as f32 / 1000000.0).floor() as usize;
-			let timestamp = format!("{}.{}", timestamp, millis);
+			let timestamp = format!("{}.{:03}", timestamp, millis);
 			format!(
 				"{} {} {} {}  {}",
 				Colour::Black.bold().paint(timestamp),