diff --git a/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/traversals/TraverseReadsUnitTest.java b/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/traversals/TraverseReadsUnitTest.java
index c0d32a05b..7f4d96add 100755
--- a/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/traversals/TraverseReadsUnitTest.java
+++ b/public/java/test/org/broadinstitute/sting/gatk/traversals/TraverseReadsUnitTest.java
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ public class TraverseReadsUnitTest extends BaseTest {
         Object accumulator = countReadWalker.reduceInit();
 
         while (shardStrategy.hasNext()) {
+            traversalEngine.startTimersIfNecessary();
             Shard shard = shardStrategy.next();
 
             if (shard == null) {