diff --git a/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.cpp b/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.cpp
index 1ab698b456..e23eb5ba66 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.cpp
+++ b/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.cpp
@@ -132,6 +132,10 @@ void MessagesMixer::processMaxMessagesContainer() {
 }
 
 void MessagesMixer::startMaxMessagesProcessor() {
+    if (_maxMessagesTimer) {
+        stopMaxMessagesProcessor();
+    }
+
     _maxMessagesTimer = new QTimer();
     connect(_maxMessagesTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &MessagesMixer::processMaxMessagesContainer);
     _maxMessagesTimer->start(MESSAGES_MIXER_RATE_LIMITER_INTERVAL); // Clear the container every second.
diff --git a/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.h b/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.h
index db64dbd0c8..9a43aca347 100644
--- a/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.h
+++ b/assignment-client/src/messages/MessagesMixer.h
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ private:
     const int DEFAULT_NODE_MESSAGES_PER_SECOND = 1000;
     int _maxMessagesPerSecond { 0 };
 
-    QTimer* _maxMessagesTimer;
+    QTimer* _maxMessagesTimer { nullptr };
 };
 
 #endif // hifi_MessagesMixer_h