diff --git a/testing/drivers/drivertest/drivertest_posix_timer.c b/testing/drivers/drivertest/drivertest_posix_timer.c
index a9db327b8..469ecc198 100644
--- a/testing/drivers/drivertest/drivertest_posix_timer.c
+++ b/testing/drivers/drivertest/drivertest_posix_timer.c
@@ -196,11 +196,11 @@ static void drivertest_posix_timer(FAR void **state)
 
   /* Start the timer */
 
+  posix_timer_state->tim = get_timestamp();
+
   ret = timer_settime(timerid, 0, &(posix_timer_state->it), NULL);
   assert_return_code(ret, OK);
 
-  posix_timer_state->tim = get_timestamp();
-
   /* Get the timer status */
 
   ret = timer_gettime(timerid, &it);