diff --git a/hw/core/ptimer.c b/hw/core/ptimer.c
index 76ebe9b48cc2..d0b2f38082b6 100644
--- a/hw/core/ptimer.c
+++ b/hw/core/ptimer.c
@@ -163,16 +163,17 @@ void ptimer_set_count(ptimer_state *s, uint64_t count)
 
 void ptimer_run(ptimer_state *s, int oneshot)
 {
-    if (s->enabled) {
-        return;
-    }
-    if (s->period == 0) {
+    bool was_disabled = !s->enabled;
+
+    if (was_disabled && s->period == 0) {
         fprintf(stderr, "Timer with period zero, disabling\n");
         return;
     }
     s->enabled = oneshot ? 2 : 1;
-    s->next_event = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
-    ptimer_reload(s);
+    if (was_disabled) {
+        s->next_event = qemu_clock_get_ns(QEMU_CLOCK_VIRTUAL);
+        ptimer_reload(s);
+    }
 }
 
 /* Pause a timer.  Note that this may cause it to "lose" time, even if it