diff --git a/include/haproxy/clock.h b/include/haproxy/clock.h
index 11eae4f6a..8ce41e79e 100644
--- a/include/haproxy/clock.h
+++ b/include/haproxy/clock.h
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <haproxy/api.h>
 
 extern struct timeval              start_date;    /* the process's start date in wall-clock time */
+extern struct timeval              ready_date;    /* date when the process was considered ready */
 extern ullong                      start_time_ns; /* the process's start date in internal monotonic time (ns) */
 extern volatile ullong             global_now_ns; /* common monotonic date between all threads, in ns (wraps every 585 yr) */
 
diff --git a/src/cfgparse.c b/src/cfgparse.c
index 328836af5..84c8cfa0c 100644
--- a/src/cfgparse.c
+++ b/src/cfgparse.c
@@ -2771,9 +2771,6 @@ int check_config_validity()
 	 * Now, check for the integrity of all that we have collected.
 	 */
 
-	/* will be needed further to delay some tasks */
-	clock_update_date(0,1);
-
 	if (!global.tune.max_http_hdr)
 		global.tune.max_http_hdr = MAX_HTTP_HDR;
 
diff --git a/src/clock.c b/src/clock.c
index 1b180e35b..7cf71607f 100644
--- a/src/clock.c
+++ b/src/clock.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <haproxy/tools.h>
 
 struct timeval                   start_date;      /* the process's start date in wall-clock time */
+struct timeval                   ready_date;      /* date when the process was considered ready */
 ullong                           start_time_ns;   /* the process's start date in internal monotonic time (ns) */
 volatile ullong                  global_now_ns;   /* common monotonic date between all threads, in ns (wraps every 585 yr) */
 volatile uint                    global_now_ms;   /* common monotonic date in milliseconds (may wrap) */
diff --git a/src/haproxy.c b/src/haproxy.c
index 2bd42a95f..35aac95a0 100644
--- a/src/haproxy.c
+++ b/src/haproxy.c
@@ -2247,8 +2247,19 @@ static void init(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
+	/* update the ready date that will be used to count the startup time
+	 * during config checks (e.g. to schedule certain tasks if needed)
+	 */
+	clock_update_date(0, 1);
+	ready_date = date;
+
 	/* Note: global.nbthread will be initialized as part of this call */
 	err_code |= check_config_validity();
+
+	/* update the ready date to also account for the check time */
+	clock_update_date(0, 1);
+	ready_date = date;
+
 	for (px = proxies_list; px; px = px->next) {
 		struct server *srv;
 		struct post_proxy_check_fct *ppcf;
@@ -3508,6 +3519,10 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 				 global.maxsock);
 	}
 
+	/* update the ready date a last time to also account for final setup time */
+	clock_update_date(0, 1);
+	ready_date = date;
+
 	if (global.mode & (MODE_DAEMON | MODE_MWORKER | MODE_MWORKER_WAIT)) {
 		int ret = 0;
 		int in_parent = 0;