diff --git a/src/map/instance.cpp b/src/map/instance.cpp
index 9f83e74e59..44d41faf73 100644
--- a/src/map/instance.cpp
+++ b/src/map/instance.cpp
@@ -457,6 +457,9 @@ int instance_create(int owner_id, const char *name, enum instance_mode mode) {
 
 	ShowInfo("[Instance] Created: %s (%hu).\n", name, i);
 
+	// Start the instance timer on instance creation
+	instance_startkeeptimer(&instance_data[i], i);
+
 	return i;
 }