diff --git a/tests/trickle/main.c b/tests/trickle/main.c
index cf3cf2a9aac1e015b398e191f0c71d3874e7e2a6..79ce6f44fa040eaa9d025ab4839b2d669253ec4b 100644
--- a/tests/trickle/main.c
+++ b/tests/trickle/main.c
@@ -60,6 +60,7 @@ int main(void)
 {
     msg_t msg;
     unsigned counter = 0;
+    prev_now = xtimer_now_usec();
 
     trickle_start(sched_active_pid, &trickle, TRICKLE_MSG, TR_IMIN,
                   TR_IDOUBLINGS, TR_REDCONST);