diff --git a/daemon/call.c b/daemon/call.c
index 657e03907..4db15430a 100644
--- a/daemon/call.c
+++ b/daemon/call.c
@@ -526,9 +526,6 @@ int call_init() {
 	for (int i = 0; i < NUM_CALL_ITERATORS; i++)
 		mutex_init(&rtpe_call_iterators[i].lock);
 
-	thread_create_looper(call_timer, rtpe_config.idle_scheduling,
-			rtpe_config.idle_priority, "kill calls timer", 1000000);
-
 	if (mqtt_publish_scope() != MPS_NONE)
 		mqtt_timer_start(&global_mqtt_timer, NULL, NULL);
 
diff --git a/daemon/main.c b/daemon/main.c
index 42395f005..f0ef87bc6 100644
--- a/daemon/main.c
+++ b/daemon/main.c
@@ -1362,6 +1362,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv) {
 	thread_create_looper(ice_slow_timer, rtpe_config.idle_scheduling,
 			rtpe_config.idle_priority, "ice slow timer", 1000000);
 
+	/* thread to close expired call */
+	thread_create_looper(call_timer, rtpe_config.idle_scheduling,
+			rtpe_config.idle_priority, "kill calls", 1000000);
+
 	if (!is_addr_unspecified(&rtpe_config.redis_ep.address) && initial_rtpe_config.redis_delete_async)
 		thread_create_detach(redis_delete_async_loop, NULL, "redis async");