diff --git a/tests/unit/sys/test_timer.cxx b/tests/unit/sys/test_timer.cxx
index 9d118c8d3..cbd5bc006 100644
--- a/tests/unit/sys/test_timer.cxx
+++ b/tests/unit/sys/test_timer.cxx
@@ -14,12 +14,11 @@ constexpr auto sleep_length = ms(1.);
 } // namespace bout
 
 TEST(TimerTest, GetTime) {
-  auto start = Timer::clock_type::now();
-
   Timer timer{};
-
+  auto start = Timer::clock_type::now();
   std::this_thread::sleep_for(bout::testing::sleep_length);
 
+  auto gettime = timer.getTime();
   auto end = Timer::clock_type::now();
   Timer::seconds elapsed = end - start;