diff --git a/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.c b/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.c
index f29f8f76e03..40b2892803d 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.c
@@ -301,6 +301,15 @@ mccs1850_device::mccs1850_device(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *tag,
 }
 
 
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  set_counter - set the counter at startup time
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+void mccs1850_device::set_counter(UINT32 value)
+{
+	m_counter = value;
+}
+
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  device_start - device-specific startup
 //-------------------------------------------------
@@ -336,7 +345,10 @@ void mccs1850_device::device_start()
 
 void mccs1850_device::device_reset()
 {
-	m_ram[REGISTER_STATUS] = 0x80 | STATUS_FTU;
+	if(!m_counter)
+		m_ram[REGISTER_STATUS] = 0x80 | STATUS_FTU;
+	else
+		m_ram[REGISTER_STATUS] = 0x80;
 	m_ram[REGISTER_CONTROL] = 0x00;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.h b/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.h
index 8b142e14b22..ee94deef977 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.h
+++ b/src/emu/machine/mccs1850.h
@@ -70,6 +70,9 @@ public:
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( por_w );
 	DECLARE_WRITE_LINE_MEMBER( test_w );
 
+	// For setting the time at startup
+	void set_counter(UINT32 value);
+
 protected:
 	// device-level overrides
 	virtual void device_start();
diff --git a/src/mess/drivers/next.c b/src/mess/drivers/next.c
index ef25f271e25..e26d665911f 100644
--- a/src/mess/drivers/next.c
+++ b/src/mess/drivers/next.c
@@ -842,6 +842,10 @@ void next_state::machine_start()
 	}
 
 	timer_tm = timer_alloc(0);
+
+	system_time systime;
+	machine().base_datetime(systime);
+	rtc->set_counter(systime.time);
 }
 
 void next_state::machine_reset()