diff --git a/src/gfx.cpp b/src/gfx.cpp
index fdc49ba5a5..c21b83070d 100644
--- a/src/gfx.cpp
+++ b/src/gfx.cpp
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ bool _check_special_modes;
 std::atomic<bool> _exit_game;
 GameMode _game_mode;
 SwitchMode _switch_mode;  ///< The next mainloop command.
+bool _switch_mode_time_valid = false;
 std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point _switch_mode_time; ///< The time when the switch mode was requested.
 PauseMode _pause_mode;
 uint32_t _pause_countdown;
diff --git a/src/openttd.cpp b/src/openttd.cpp
index e427d67935..235a24f6b6 100644
--- a/src/openttd.cpp
+++ b/src/openttd.cpp
@@ -1371,7 +1371,10 @@ void SwitchToMode(SwitchMode new_mode)
 	if (_game_mode == GM_NORMAL && new_mode != SM_SAVE_GAME) _survey.Transmit(NetworkSurveyHandler::Reason::LEAVE);
 
 	/* Keep track when we last switch mode. Used for survey, to know how long someone was in a game. */
-	if (new_mode != SM_SAVE_GAME) _switch_mode_time = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
+	if (new_mode != SM_SAVE_GAME) {
+		_switch_mode_time = std::chrono::steady_clock::now();
+		_switch_mode_time_valid = true;
+	}
 
 	switch (new_mode) {
 		case SM_EDITOR: // Switch to scenario editor
diff --git a/src/openttd.h b/src/openttd.h
index b8e1cb42e4..bf28ceafc9 100644
--- a/src/openttd.h
+++ b/src/openttd.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ enum ExtraDisplayOptions {
 extern GameMode _game_mode;
 extern SwitchMode _switch_mode;
 extern bool _check_special_modes;
+extern bool _switch_mode_time_valid;
 extern std::chrono::steady_clock::time_point _switch_mode_time;
 extern std::atomic<bool> _exit_game;
 extern bool _save_config;
diff --git a/src/survey.cpp b/src/survey.cpp
index afd7ef2f7c..f45470c7c0 100644
--- a/src/survey.cpp
+++ b/src/survey.cpp
@@ -290,7 +290,11 @@ void SurveyCompanies(nlohmann::json &survey)
 void SurveyTimers(nlohmann::json &survey)
 {
 	survey["ticks"] = _scaled_tick_counter;
-	survey["seconds"] = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - _switch_mode_time).count();
+	if (_switch_mode_time_valid) {
+		survey["seconds"] = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds>(std::chrono::steady_clock::now() - _switch_mode_time).count();
+	} else {
+		survey["seconds"] = 0;
+	}
 
 	survey["calendar"] = fmt::format("{:04}-{:02}-{:02} ({})", _cur_date_ymd.year, _cur_date_ymd.month + 1, _cur_date_ymd.day, _date_fract);
 }