diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index a7e2227..ab2ce0b 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -302,9 +302,15 @@ Reissue.prototype.start = function start(delay) {
     // set the flag and off we go!
     self._active = true;
 
-    self._nextHandlerId = setTimeout(function _nextInvocation() {
+    // can't to truthy check since 0 is falsy. if a delay is passed in, then
+    // schedule it. otherwise, it's synchronous and you can't stop it.
+    if (typeof delay === 'number') {
+        self._nextHandlerId = setTimeout(function _nextInvocation() {
+            self._execute();
+        }, realDelay);
+    } else {
         self._execute();
-    }, realDelay);
+    }
 };
 
 
diff --git a/test/index.js b/test/index.js
index 4f13711..fc08b10 100644
--- a/test/index.js
+++ b/test/index.js
@@ -341,8 +341,8 @@ describe('Reissue module', function() {
     });
 
 
-    it('should not execute first invocation if stop was called',
-    function(done) {
+    it('should not execute first invocation if started with delay and stop ' +
+    'was called', function(done) {
 
         let fired = false;
 
@@ -364,6 +364,30 @@ describe('Reissue module', function() {
     });
 
 
+    it('should execute first invocation synchronously if start had no delay ' +
+    'and stop was called', function(done) {
+
+        let fired = false;
+
+        const timer = reissue.create({
+            func: function(callback) {
+                fired = true;
+                return callback();
+            },
+            interval: 300
+        });
+        timer.start();
+        timer.stop();
+
+        // because we called start synchronously, we'll have at least one
+        // invocation (first one).
+        setTimeout(function() {
+            assert.isTrue(fired);
+            return done();
+        }, 500);
+    });
+
+
     it('should emit stop event if reissue is inactive', function(done) {
         const timer = reissue.create({
              func: function(callback) {