diff --git a/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor.go b/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor.go
index 8a41110fffe..db31fd5b7f9 100644
--- a/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor.go
+++ b/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor.go
@@ -434,6 +434,10 @@ func NewPollingDeviationChecker(
 	fetcher Fetcher,
 	minSubmission, maxSubmission *big.Int,
 ) (*PollingDeviationChecker, error) {
+	var idleTimer = utils.NewResettableTimer()
+	if !initr.IdleTimer.Disabled {
+		idleTimer.Reset(initr.IdleTimer.Duration.Duration())
+	}
 	pdc := &PollingDeviationChecker{
 		store:            store,
 		logBroadcaster:   logBroadcaster,
@@ -446,7 +450,7 @@ func NewPollingDeviationChecker(
 		fetcher:          fetcher,
 		pollTicker:       utils.NewPausableTicker(initr.PollTimer.Period.Duration()),
 		hibernationTimer: utils.NewResettableTimer(),
-		idleTimer:        utils.NewResettableTimer(),
+		idleTimer:        idleTimer,
 		roundTimer:       utils.NewResettableTimer(),
 		minSubmission:    minSubmission,
 		maxSubmission:    maxSubmission,
diff --git a/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor_test.go b/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor_test.go
index 3bca7bcaa42..47383a8b1a5 100644
--- a/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor_test.go
+++ b/core/services/fluxmonitor/flux_monitor_test.go
@@ -1463,6 +1463,54 @@ func TestFluxMonitor_PollingDeviationChecker_HandlesNilLogs(t *testing.T) {
 	})
 }
 
+func TestFluxMonitor_IdleTimer(t *testing.T) {
+	store, cleanup := cltest.NewStore(t)
+	defer cleanup()
+	fluxAggregator := new(mocks.FluxAggregator)
+	runManager := new(mocks.RunManager)
+	fetcher := new(mocks.Fetcher)
+	initr := models.Initiator{
+		JobSpecID: models.NewJobID(),
+		InitiatorParams: models.InitiatorParams{
+			IdleTimer: models.IdleTimerConfig{
+				Disabled: false,
+				Duration: models.MustMakeDuration(10 * time.Millisecond),
+			},
+			PollTimer: models.PollTimerConfig{
+				Disabled: true,
+			},
+		},
+	}
+	lb := new(logmocks.Broadcaster)
+	lb.On("Register", mock.Anything, mock.Anything).Return(func() {})
+	lb.On("IsConnected").Return(true)
+	fluxAggregator.On("GetOracles", mock.Anything).Return([]common.Address{}, nil)
+	fluxAggregator.On("LatestRoundData", mock.Anything).Return(
+		flux_aggregator_wrapper.LatestRoundData{RoundId: big.NewInt(10), StartedAt: nil}, nil)
+
+	// By returning this old round state started at, we stop the idle timer from getting reset.
+	startedAtTs := big.NewInt(time.Now().Unix() - 10)
+	// Normally there are 2 oracle round state calls upon startup.
+	fluxAggregator.On("OracleRoundState", mock.Anything, mock.Anything, mock.Anything).Return(
+		flux_aggregator_wrapper.OracleRoundState{EligibleToSubmit: false, RoundId: 10, StartedAt: startedAtTs.Uint64()}, nil).Times(2)
+	done := make(chan struct{})
+	// To get a 3rd call we need the idle timer to fire
+	fluxAggregator.On("OracleRoundState", mock.Anything, mock.Anything, mock.Anything).Run(func(args mock.Arguments) {
+		done <- struct{}{}
+	}).Return(
+		flux_aggregator_wrapper.OracleRoundState{EligibleToSubmit: false, RoundId: 10, StartedAt: startedAtTs.Uint64()}, nil)
+
+	checker, err := fluxmonitor.NewPollingDeviationChecker(store, fluxAggregator, nil, lb, initr, nil, runManager, fetcher, big.NewInt(0), big.NewInt(100000000000))
+	require.NoError(t, err)
+	checker.Start()
+	defer checker.Stop()
+	select {
+	case <-done:
+	case <-time.After(time.Second):
+		t.Error("idle timer did not fire as expected")
+	}
+}
+
 func TestFluxMonitor_ConsumeLogBroadcast_Happy(t *testing.T) {
 	store, cleanup := cltest.NewStore(t)
 	defer cleanup()
diff --git a/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager.go b/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager.go
index 56b5415a2c9..b8bdf2c61a1 100644
--- a/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager.go
+++ b/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager.go
@@ -66,6 +66,12 @@ func NewPollManager(cfg PollManagerConfig, logger *logger.Logger) *PollManager {
 	if cfg.IdleTimerPeriod < maxBackoffDuration {
 		maxBackoffDuration = cfg.IdleTimerPeriod
 	}
+	// Always initialize the idle timer so that no matter what it has a ticker
+	// and won't get starved by an old startedAt timestamp from the oracle state on boot.
+	var idleTimer = utils.NewResettableTimer()
+	if !cfg.IdleTimerDisabled {
+		idleTimer.Reset(cfg.IdleTimerPeriod)
+	}
 
 	return &PollManager{
 		cfg:    cfg,
@@ -73,7 +79,7 @@ func NewPollManager(cfg PollManagerConfig, logger *logger.Logger) *PollManager {
 
 		hibernationTimer: utils.NewResettableTimer(),
 		pollTicker:       utils.NewPausableTicker(cfg.PollTickerInterval),
-		idleTimer:        utils.NewResettableTimer(),
+		idleTimer:        idleTimer,
 		roundTimer:       utils.NewResettableTimer(),
 		retryTicker:      utils.NewBackoffTicker(minBackoffDuration, maxBackoffDuration),
 		chPoll:           make(chan PollRequest),
diff --git a/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager_test.go b/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager_test.go
index 753f3edaff0..c8b409d40a1 100644
--- a/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager_test.go
+++ b/core/services/fluxmonitorv2/poll_manager_test.go
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestPollManager_IdleTimer(t *testing.T) {
 	}, logger.Default)
 
 	pm.Start(false, flux_aggregator_wrapper.OracleRoundState{
-		StartedAt: uint64(time.Now().Unix()),
+		StartedAt: uint64(time.Now().Unix()) - 10, // Even 10 seconds old the idle timer should tick
 	})
 	t.Cleanup(pm.Stop)