diff --git a/src/timer.c b/src/timer.c
index 77fb00396..79d4ad6de 100644
--- a/src/timer.c
+++ b/src/timer.c
@@ -69,12 +69,9 @@ static void __add_timer(struct osmo_timer_list *timer)
  */
 void osmo_timer_add(struct osmo_timer_list *timer)
 {
-	if (timer->active) {
-		rb_erase(&timer->node, &timer_root);
-	} else {
-		timer->active = 1;
-		INIT_LLIST_HEAD(&timer->list);
-	}
+	osmo_timer_del(timer);
+	timer->active = 1;
+	INIT_LLIST_HEAD(&timer->list);
 	__add_timer(timer);
 }