diff --git a/mythtv/libs/libmythtv/recorders/recorderbase.cpp b/mythtv/libs/libmythtv/recorders/recorderbase.cpp
index e0fdccade76..f26502a5f09 100644
--- a/mythtv/libs/libmythtv/recorders/recorderbase.cpp
+++ b/mythtv/libs/libmythtv/recorders/recorderbase.cpp
@@ -472,7 +472,8 @@ void RecorderBase::SavePositionMap(bool force)
     positionMapLock.lock();
 
     uint delta_size = positionMapDelta.size();
-    uint pm_elapsed = positionMapTimer.elapsed();
+    uint pm_elapsed = (positionMapTimer.isRunning()) ?
+        positionMapTimer.elapsed() : 0;
     // save on every 1.5 seconds if in the first few frames of a recording
     needToSave |= (positionMap.size() < 30) &&
         (delta_size >= 1) && (pm_elapsed >= 1500);