diff --git a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/task_runner.go b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/task_runner.go
index 12f1abf26be7..4120b42ffad1 100644
--- a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/task_runner.go
+++ b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/task_runner.go
@@ -563,7 +563,9 @@ func (tr *TaskRunner) Run() {
 	// Set the initial task state.
 	tr.stateUpdater.TaskStateUpdated()
 
-	timer, stop := helper.NewSafeTimer(0) // timer duration calculated JIT
+	// start with a stopped timer; actual restart delay computed later
+	timer, stop := helper.NewSafeTimer(999 * time.Hour)
+	timer.Stop()
 	defer stop()
 
 MAIN: