diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp
index 718bee747..854878b92 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.cpp
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ GameState::GameState(AbstractGame *parent,
     gameTimer = new QTimer(this);
     gameTimer->setInterval(1000);
     connect(gameTimer, &QTimer::timeout, this, &GameState::incrementGameTime);
+    gameTimer->start();
 }
 
 void GameState::incrementGameTime()
@@ -37,14 +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->start();
-}
-
-void GameState::stopGameTimer()
-{
-    gameTimer->stop();
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h
index 3305596f0..6edf579b0 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/game/game_state.h
@@ -91,17 +91,12 @@ public:
     void onStartedChanged(bool _started)
     {
         if (_started) {
-            startGameTimer();
             emit gameStarted(_started);
         } else {
-            stopGameTimer();
             emit gameStopped();
         }
     }
 
-    void startGameTimer();
-    void stopGameTimer();
-
     void setGameStateKnown(bool known)
     {
         gameStateKnown = known;