diff --git a/dist/common/systemd/scylla-housekeeping.timer b/dist/common/systemd/scylla-housekeeping.timer
index b5f7ebd22e..267ab36f8c 100644
--- a/dist/common/systemd/scylla-housekeeping.timer
+++ b/dist/common/systemd/scylla-housekeeping.timer
@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ After=scylla-server.service
 BindsTo=scylla-server.service
 
 [Timer]
-OnBootSec=3
+# set OnActiveSec to 3 to safely avoid issues/1846
+OnActiveSec=3
 OnUnitActiveSec=1d
 
 [Install]