diff --git a/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c b/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c
index 19288a2bbc75..6f3fe30ad283 100644
--- a/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c
+++ b/samples/bpf/xdpsock_user.c
@@ -1984,15 +1984,15 @@ 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;
-
 	/* Configure sched priority for better wake-up accuracy */
 	memset(&schparam, 0, sizeof(schparam));
 	schparam.sched_priority = opt_schprio;