diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/entity/type/living/monster/WardenEntity.java b/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/entity/type/living/monster/WardenEntity.java
index 1ca34037c4b..ff6eed97552 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/entity/type/living/monster/WardenEntity.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/geysermc/geyser/entity/type/living/monster/WardenEntity.java
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
 import java.util.concurrent.ThreadLocalRandom;
 
 public class WardenEntity extends MonsterEntity implements Tickable {
-    private int heartBeatDelay;
+    private int heartBeatDelay = 40;
     private int tickCount;
 
     private int sonicBoomTickDuration;
@@ -50,6 +50,12 @@ public WardenEntity(GeyserSession session, int entityId, long geyserId, UUID uui
         super(session, entityId, geyserId, uuid, definition, position, motion, yaw, pitch, headYaw);
     }
 
+    @Override
+    protected void initializeMetadata() {
+        super.initializeMetadata();
+        dirtyMetadata.put(EntityData.HEARTBEAT_INTERVAL_TICKS, heartBeatDelay);
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void setPose(Pose pose) {
         setFlag(EntityFlag.DIGGING, pose == Pose.DIGGING);