diff --git a/interface/src/Application.cpp b/interface/src/Application.cpp
index 0d6a36f583..ab1a326698 100644
--- a/interface/src/Application.cpp
+++ b/interface/src/Application.cpp
@@ -244,6 +244,8 @@ public:
     // Set the heartbeat on launch
     DeadlockWatchdogThread() {
         QTimer* heartbeatTimer = new QTimer();
+        // Give the heartbeat an initial value
+        _heartbeat = usecTimestampNow();
         connect(heartbeatTimer, &QTimer::timeout, [this] {
             _heartbeat = usecTimestampNow();
         });