diff --git a/lib/timers.js b/lib/timers.js
index a4a2c17c93e..d0a154a08bd 100644
--- a/lib/timers.js
+++ b/lib/timers.js
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ function insert(item, msecs) {
     list = lists[msecs];
   } else {
     list = new Timer();
-    list.start(msecs, 0);
 
     L.init(list);
 
@@ -67,6 +66,10 @@ function insert(item, msecs) {
     list.msecs = msecs;
     list[kOnTimeout] = listOnTimeout;
   }
+  // Call start regardless whether list is new
+  // or not to prevent incorrect active_handles
+  // count. See issue #25831.
+  list.start(msecs, 0);
 
   L.append(list, item);
   assert(!L.isEmpty(list)); // list is not empty