diff --git a/src/node_timer.cc b/src/node_timer.cc
index 1a3ed791d3..5ab409b048 100644
--- a/src/node_timer.cc
+++ b/src/node_timer.cc
@@ -149,8 +149,10 @@ Handle<Value> Timer::Again(const Arguments& args) {
 
   int was_active = ev_is_active(&timer->watcher_);
 
-  ev_tstamp repeat = NODE_V8_UNIXTIME(args[0]);
-  if (repeat > 0) timer->watcher_.repeat = repeat;
+  if (args.Length() > 0) {
+    ev_tstamp repeat = NODE_V8_UNIXTIME(args[0]);
+    if (repeat > 0) timer->watcher_.repeat = repeat;
+  }
 
   ev_timer_again(EV_DEFAULT_UC_ &timer->watcher_);
 
diff --git a/src/node_timer.h b/src/node_timer.h
index fdf2a2394f..56352912a6 100644
--- a/src/node_timer.h
+++ b/src/node_timer.h
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@ class Timer : ObjectWrap {
  protected:
   static v8::Persistent<v8::FunctionTemplate> constructor_template;
 
-  Timer () : ObjectWrap () { }
+  Timer () : ObjectWrap () {
+    // dummy timeout values
+    ev_timer_init(&watcher_, OnTimeout, 0., 1.);
+  }
   ~Timer();
 
   static v8::Handle<v8::Value> New (const v8::Arguments& args);