diff --git a/src/emu/machine/6532riot.c b/src/emu/machine/6532riot.c
index 8ea6890aa82..e3cb7442964 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/6532riot.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/6532riot.c
@@ -531,6 +531,6 @@ void riot6532_device::device_reset()
 
 	/* reset timer states */
 	m_timershift = 0;
-	m_timerstate = TIMER_IDLE;
-	m_timer->adjust(attotime::never);
+	m_timerstate = TIMER_FINISHING;
+	m_timer->adjust(attotime::from_ticks(256, clock()));
 }