diff --git a/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.cpp b/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.cpp
index 69ddb1ca49..81eaa72767 100644
--- a/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.cpp
+++ b/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.cpp
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ void RPMCapture::Run()
 
 	} else {
 		// Timeout for no interrupts
-		_period = 0;
+		_period = UINT32_MAX;
 		ScheduleDelayed(RPM_PULSE_TIMEOUT);
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.hpp b/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.hpp
index 5d7093bb0c..bbc1b2f66b 100644
--- a/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.hpp
+++ b/src/drivers/rpm_capture/RPMCapture.hpp
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ private:
 
 	hrt_abstime _hrt_timestamp{0};
 	hrt_abstime _hrt_timestamp_prev{0};
-	uint32_t _period{0};
+	uint32_t _period{UINT32_MAX};
 	uint32_t _error_count{0};
 	px4::atomic<bool> _value_processed{true};