diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp
index 04248819f..854878b92 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp
@@ -15,6 +15,10 @@ GameState::GameState(AbstractGame *parent,
       clients(_clients), gameStateKnown(_gameStateKnown), resuming(_resuming), currentPhase(_currentPhase),
       activePlayer(-1), gameClosed(_gameClosed)
 {
+    gameTimer = new QTimer(this);
+    gameTimer->setInterval(1000);
+    connect(gameTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &GameState::incrementGameTime);
+    gameTimer->start();
 }
 
 void GameState::incrementGameTime()
@@ -24,6 +28,7 @@ void GameState::incrementGameTime()
 
 void GameState::setGameTime(int _secondsElapsed)
 {
+    secondsElapsed = _secondsElapsed;
     int seconds = _secondsElapsed;
     int minutes = seconds / 60;
     seconds -= minutes * 60;
@@ -33,12 +38,4 @@ void GameState::setGameTime(int _secondsElapsed)
     emit updateTimeElapsedLabel(QString::number(hours).rightJustified(2, '0') + ":" +
                                 QString::number(minutes).rightJustified(2, '0') + ":" +
                                 QString::number(seconds).rightJustified(2, '0'));
-}
-
-void GameState::startGameTimer()
-{
-    gameTimer = new QTimer(this);
-    gameTimer->setInterval(1000);
-    connect(gameTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &GameState::incrementGameTime);
-    gameTimer->start();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h
index 63d38ebb7..6edf579b0 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h
@@ -91,15 +91,12 @@ public:
     void onStartedChanged(bool _started)
     {
         if (_started) {
-            startGameTimer();
             emit gameStarted(_started);
         } else {
             emit gameStopped();
         }
     }
 
-    void startGameTimer();
-
     void setGameStateKnown(bool known)
     {
         gameStateKnown = known;
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/tabs/tab_game.cpp b/cockatrice/src/tabs/tab_game.cpp
index 7e345472d..3bd857428 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/tabs/tab_game.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/tabs/tab_game.cpp
@@ -1277,7 +1277,6 @@ void TabGame::createMessageDock(bool bReplay)
         timeElapsedLabel = new QLabel;
         timeElapsedLabel->setAlignment(Qt::AlignCenter);
         connect(game->getGameState(), &GameState::updateTimeElapsedLabel, this, &TabGame::updateTimeElapsedLabel);
-        game->getGameState()->startGameTimer();
 
         messageLogLayout->addWidget(timeElapsedLabel);
     }