diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java
index 1b7a799be12..81f27097c81 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/elasticsearch/index/engine/Engine.java
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ public abstract class Engine implements Closeable {
     protected final ReleasableLock readLock = new ReleasableLock(rwl.readLock());
     protected final ReleasableLock writeLock = new ReleasableLock(rwl.writeLock());
     protected volatile Throwable failedEngine = null;
-    protected volatile long lastWriteNanos;
+    protected volatile long lastWriteNanos = Long.MAX_VALUE; // no write yet!
 
     protected Engine(EngineConfig engineConfig) {
         Objects.requireNonNull(engineConfig.getStore(), "Store must be provided to the engine");