diff --git a/services/horizon/internal/ingest/fsm_reingest_history_range_state.go b/services/horizon/internal/ingest/fsm_reingest_history_range_state.go
index 4e60f71cd1..e2e7724d68 100644
--- a/services/horizon/internal/ingest/fsm_reingest_history_range_state.go
+++ b/services/horizon/internal/ingest/fsm_reingest_history_range_state.go
@@ -124,13 +124,14 @@ func (h reingestHistoryRangeState) run(s *system) (transition, error) {
 		h.fromLedger = 2
 	}
 
-	startTime := time.Now()
+	var startTime time.Time
 
 	if h.force {
 		if t, err := h.prepareRange(s); err != nil {
 			return t, err
 		}
 
+		startTime = time.Now()
 		if err := s.historyQ.Begin(s.ctx); err != nil {
 			return stop(), errors.Wrap(err, "Error starting a transaction")
 		}
@@ -167,6 +168,7 @@ func (h reingestHistoryRangeState) run(s *system) (transition, error) {
 			return t, err
 		}
 
+		startTime = time.Now()
 		if err := s.historyQ.Begin(s.ctx); err != nil {
 			return stop(), errors.Wrap(err, "Error starting a transaction")
 		}