diff --git a/nest/proto.c b/nest/proto.c
index 75ba10dd..5876e5d4 100644
--- a/nest/proto.c
+++ b/nest/proto.c
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ static void
 proto_enqueue(list *l, struct proto *p)
 {
   add_tail(l, &p->n);
-  p->last_state_change = now;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -362,6 +361,8 @@ proto_init(struct proto_config *c)
 
   q->proto_state = PS_DOWN;
   q->core_state = FS_HUNGRY;
+  q->last_state_change = now;
+
   proto_enqueue(&initial_proto_list, q);
   if (p == &proto_unix_iface)
     initial_device_proto = q;
@@ -1077,6 +1078,7 @@ proto_notify_state(struct proto *p, unsigned ps)
     return;
 
   p->proto_state = ps;
+  p->last_state_change = now;
 
   switch (ps)
     {