diff --git a/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c b/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c
index 2e4508a6cb3a..cf5b0a895225 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c
+++ b/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c
@@ -1520,14 +1520,15 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	setlocale(LC_ALL, "");
 
+	prev_time = get_nsecs();
+	start_time = prev_time;
+
 	if (!opt_quiet) {
 		ret = pthread_create(&pt, NULL, poller, NULL);
 		if (ret)
 			exit_with_error(ret);
 	}
 
-	prev_time = get_nsecs();
-	start_time = prev_time;
 
 	if (opt_bench == BENCH_RXDROP)
 		rx_drop_all();