diff --git a/mod/quiz/attempt.php b/mod/quiz/attempt.php
index 99f8ca3c96d..533c8a81458 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/attempt.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/attempt.php
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@
                            "$quiz->id", $cm->id);
         }
     }
-    if ($attempt->timestart) { // shouldn't really happen, just for robustness
+    if (!$attempt->timestart) { // shouldn't really happen, just for robustness
         $attempt->timestart = time();
     }