diff --git a/.chloggen/deltatocumulative-advancing-starttime.yaml b/.chloggen/deltatocumulative-advancing-starttime.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b8138d3059b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.chloggen/deltatocumulative-advancing-starttime.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+# Use this changelog template to create an entry for release notes.
+
+# One of 'breaking', 'deprecation', 'new_component', 'enhancement', 'bug_fix'
+change_type: bug_fix
+
+# The name of the component, or a single word describing the area of concern, (e.g. filelogreceiver)
+component: deltatocumulativeprocessor
+
+# A brief description of the change.  Surround your text with quotes ("") if it needs to start with a backtick (`).
+note: permits advancing delta start timestamps, as required by spec.
+
+# Mandatory: One or more tracking issues related to the change. You can use the PR number here if no issue exists.
+issues: [31365]
+
+# (Optional) One or more lines of additional information to render under the primary note.
+# These lines will be padded with 2 spaces and then inserted directly into the document.
+# Use pipe (|) for multiline entries.
+subtext: 
+
+# If your change doesn't affect end users or the exported elements of any package,
+# you should instead start your pull request title with [chore] or use the "Skip Changelog" label.
+# Optional: The change log or logs in which this entry should be included.
+# e.g. '[user]' or '[user, api]'
+# Include 'user' if the change is relevant to end users.
+# Include 'api' if there is a change to a library API.
+# Default: '[user]'
+change_logs: [user]
diff --git a/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta.go b/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta.go
index 8246bf8e09d1..fda1e8149a84 100644
--- a/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta.go
+++ b/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta.go
@@ -34,29 +34,21 @@ type Accumulator[D data.Point[D]] struct {
 // Aggregate implements delta-to-cumulative aggregation as per spec:
 // https://opentelemetry.io/docs/specs/otel/metrics/data-model/#sums-delta-to-cumulative
 func (a *Accumulator[D]) Aggregate(id streams.Ident, dp D) (D, error) {
-	// make the accumulator to start with the current sample, discarding any
-	// earlier data. return after use
-	reset := func() (D, error) {
-		a.dps[id] = dp.Clone()
-		return a.dps[id], nil
-	}
-
 	aggr, ok := a.dps[id]
 
-	// new series: reset
+	// new series: initialize with current sample
 	if !ok {
-		return reset()
+		a.dps[id] = dp.Clone()
+		return a.dps[id], nil
 	}
-	// belongs to older series: drop
-	if dp.StartTimestamp() < aggr.StartTimestamp() {
+
+	// drop bad samples
+	switch {
+	case dp.StartTimestamp() < aggr.StartTimestamp():
+		// belongs to older series
 		return aggr, ErrOlderStart{Start: aggr.StartTimestamp(), Sample: dp.StartTimestamp()}
-	}
-	// belongs to later series: reset
-	if dp.StartTimestamp() > aggr.StartTimestamp() {
-		return reset()
-	}
-	// out of order: drop
-	if dp.Timestamp() <= aggr.Timestamp() {
+	case dp.Timestamp() <= aggr.Timestamp():
+		// out of order
 		return aggr, ErrOutOfOrder{Last: aggr.Timestamp(), Sample: dp.Timestamp()}
 	}
 
diff --git a/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta_test.go b/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta_test.go
index ae863697339f..f298d174977c 100644
--- a/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta_test.go
+++ b/processor/deltatocumulativeprocessor/internal/delta/delta_test.go
@@ -105,30 +105,45 @@ func TestAddition(t *testing.T) {
 // verify that start + last times are updated
 func TestTimes(t *testing.T) {
 	acc := delta.Numbers()
-	id, data := random.Sum().Stream()
-
-	start := pcommon.Timestamp(1234)
-	ts1, ts2 := pcommon.Timestamp(1234), pcommon.Timestamp(1235)
-
-	// first sample: take timestamps of point
-	first := data.Clone()
-	first.SetStartTimestamp(start)
-	first.SetTimestamp(ts1)
-
-	r1, err := acc.Aggregate(id, first)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, start, r1.StartTimestamp())
-	require.Equal(t, ts1, r1.Timestamp())
-
-	// second sample: take last of point, keep start
-	second := data.Clone()
-	second.SetStartTimestamp(start)
-	second.SetTimestamp(ts2)
-
-	r2, err := acc.Aggregate(id, second)
-	require.NoError(t, err)
-	require.Equal(t, start, r2.StartTimestamp())
-	require.Equal(t, ts2, r2.Timestamp())
+	id, base := random.Sum().Stream()
+	point := func(start, last pcommon.Timestamp) data.Number {
+		dp := base.Clone()
+		dp.SetStartTimestamp(start)
+		dp.SetTimestamp(last)
+		return dp
+	}
+
+	// first sample: its the first ever, so take it as-is
+	{
+		dp := point(1000, 1000)
+		res, err := acc.Aggregate(id, dp)
+
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, time(1000), res.StartTimestamp())
+		require.Equal(t, time(1000), res.Timestamp())
+	}
+
+	// second sample: its subsequent, so keep original startTime, but update lastSeen
+	{
+		dp := point(1000, 1100)
+		res, err := acc.Aggregate(id, dp)
+
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, time(1000), res.StartTimestamp())
+		require.Equal(t, time(1100), res.Timestamp())
+	}
+
+	// third sample: its subsequent, but has a more recent startTime, which is
+	// PERMITTED by the spec.
+	// still keep original startTime, but update lastSeen.
+	{
+		dp := point(1100, 1200)
+		res, err := acc.Aggregate(id, dp)
+
+		require.NoError(t, err)
+		require.Equal(t, time(1000), res.StartTimestamp())
+		require.Equal(t, time(1200), res.Timestamp())
+	}
 }
 
 func TestErrs(t *testing.T) {