diff --git a/arch/x86_64/src/intel64/intel64_tsc_tickless.c b/arch/x86_64/src/intel64/intel64_tsc_tickless.c
index 681820eb3a6..906346b8531 100644
--- a/arch/x86_64/src/intel64/intel64_tsc_tickless.c
+++ b/arch/x86_64/src/intel64/intel64_tsc_tickless.c
@@ -147,7 +147,8 @@ void up_timer_initialize(void)
 {
   uint64_t tsc = rdtscp();
 #ifdef CONFIG_ARCH_INTEL64_HAVE_TSC_ADJUST
-  write_msr(MSR_IA32_TSC_ADJUST, 0 - tsc);
+  uint64_t offset = read_msr(MSR_IA32_TSC_ADJUST) - tsc;
+  write_msr(MSR_IA32_TSC_ADJUST, offset);
 #else
   g_start_tsc = tsc;
 #endif