diff --git a/internal/utils/timer.go b/internal/utils/timer.go
index 20eaacd0..15e6fb05 100644
--- a/internal/utils/timer.go
+++ b/internal/utils/timer.go
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 package utils
 
-import "time"
+import (
+	"math"
+	"time"
+)
 
 // A Timer wrapper that behaves correctly when resetting
 type Timer struct {
@@ -11,7 +14,7 @@ type Timer struct {
 
 // NewTimer creates a new timer that is not set
 func NewTimer() *Timer {
-	return &Timer{t: time.NewTimer(0)}
+	return &Timer{t: time.NewTimer(time.Duration(math.MaxInt64))}
 }
 
 // Chan returns the channel of the wrapped timer
diff --git a/internal/utils/timer_test.go b/internal/utils/timer_test.go
index c1581919..cf26785b 100644
--- a/internal/utils/timer_test.go
+++ b/internal/utils/timer_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,11 @@ import (
 var _ = Describe("Timer", func() {
 	const d = 10 * time.Millisecond
 
+	It("doesn't fire a newly created timer", func() {
+		t := NewTimer()
+		Consistently(t.Chan()).ShouldNot(Receive())
+	})
+
 	It("works", func() {
 		t := NewTimer()
 		t.Reset(time.Now().Add(d))