diff --git a/sched/clock/clock_initialize.c b/sched/clock/clock_initialize.c
index 020bb2e9b66a6..ba02b0893a646 100644
--- a/sched/clock/clock_initialize.c
+++ b/sched/clock/clock_initialize.c
@@ -163,6 +163,8 @@ static void clock_inittime(FAR const struct timespec *tp)
   struct timespec ts;
   irqstate_t flags;
 
+  clock_systime_timespec(&ts);
+
   flags = spin_lock_irqsave(&g_basetime_lock);
   if (tp)
     {
@@ -173,12 +175,6 @@ static void clock_inittime(FAR const struct timespec *tp)
       clock_basetime(&g_basetime);
     }
 
-  spin_unlock_irqrestore(&g_basetime_lock, flags);
-
-  clock_systime_timespec(&ts);
-
-  flags = spin_lock_irqsave(&g_basetime_lock);
-
   /* Adjust base time to hide initial timer ticks. */
 
   g_basetime.tv_sec  -= ts.tv_sec;