diff --git a/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c b/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c
index abfbcb99a..d2d30c8da 100644
--- a/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c
+++ b/src/timer/windows/SDL_systimer.c
@@ -189,6 +189,10 @@ SDL_Delay(Uint32 ms)
     }
     WaitForSingleObjectEx(mutex, ms, FALSE);
 #else
+    if (!ticks_started) {
+        SDL_TicksInit();
+    }
+
     Sleep(ms);
 #endif
 }