diff --git a/sensorhub-core/src/main/java/org/sensorhub/impl/database/system/SystemDriverDatabase.java b/sensorhub-core/src/main/java/org/sensorhub/impl/database/system/SystemDriverDatabase.java
index 4e24155e8..9257b8ec3 100644
--- a/sensorhub-core/src/main/java/org/sensorhub/impl/database/system/SystemDriverDatabase.java
+++ b/sensorhub-core/src/main/java/org/sensorhub/impl/database/system/SystemDriverDatabase.java
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ protected void doStart() throws SensorHubException
         {
             throw new DataStoreException("Cannot instantiate underlying database " + config.dbConfig.moduleClass, e);
         }
+
+        if(!config.autoPurgeConfig.isEmpty())
+            autoPurgeTimer = new Timer();
         
         // start auto-purge timer thread if policy is specified and enabled
         for(var autoPurgeConfig : config.autoPurgeConfig)
@@ -88,7 +91,6 @@ protected void doStart() throws SensorHubException
             {
                 var uids = Collections.unmodifiableCollection(autoPurgeConfig.systemUIDs);
                 final IObsSystemDbAutoPurgePolicy policy = autoPurgeConfig.getPolicy();
-                autoPurgeTimer = new Timer();
                 TimerTask task = new TimerTask() {
                     public void run()
                     {