diff --git a/src/include/gpxe/retry.h b/src/include/gpxe/retry.h
index e0c0248b..e71e7b3b 100644
--- a/src/include/gpxe/retry.h
+++ b/src/include/gpxe/retry.h
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@ struct retry_timer {
 };
 
 extern void start_timer ( struct retry_timer *timer );
+extern void start_timer_nodelay ( struct retry_timer *timer );
 extern void stop_timer ( struct retry_timer *timer );
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/net/retry.c b/src/net/retry.c
index 6734968f..0f711e6d 100644
--- a/src/net/retry.c
+++ b/src/net/retry.c
@@ -73,6 +73,18 @@ void start_timer ( struct retry_timer *timer ) {
 	       timer, timer->start, ( timer->start + timer->timeout ) );
 }
 
+/**
+ * Start timer with no delay
+ *
+ * @v timer		Retry timer
+ *
+ * This starts the timer running with a zero timeout value.
+ */
+void start_timer_nodelay ( struct retry_timer *timer ) {
+	start_timer ( timer );
+	timer->timeout = 0;
+}
+
 /**
  * Stop timer
  *
diff --git a/src/net/tcp.c b/src/net/tcp.c
index 01daf75a..28cf95fb 100644
--- a/src/net/tcp.c
+++ b/src/net/tcp.c
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static int tcp_open ( struct xfer_interface *xfer, struct sockaddr *peer,
 		goto err;
 
 	/* Start timer to initiate SYN */
-	start_timer ( &tcp->timer );
+	start_timer_nodelay ( &tcp->timer );
 
 	/* Attach parent interface, transfer reference to connection
 	 * list and return
diff --git a/src/net/udp/dhcp.c b/src/net/udp/dhcp.c
index ed455632..86695f12 100644
--- a/src/net/udp/dhcp.c
+++ b/src/net/udp/dhcp.c
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ int start_dhcp ( struct job_interface *job, struct net_device *netdev,
 		goto err;
 
 	/* Start timer to initiate initial DHCPREQUEST */
-	start_timer ( &dhcp->timer );
+	start_timer_nodelay ( &dhcp->timer );
 
 	/* Attach parent interface, mortalise self, and return */
 	job_plug_plug ( &dhcp->job, job );
diff --git a/src/net/udp/tftp.c b/src/net/udp/tftp.c
index ea4d1df3..7f1c4ce6 100644
--- a/src/net/udp/tftp.c
+++ b/src/net/udp/tftp.c
@@ -657,7 +657,7 @@ int tftp_open ( struct xfer_interface *xfer, struct uri *uri ) {
 		goto err;
 
 	/* Start timer to initiate RRQ */
-	start_timer ( &tftp->timer );
+	start_timer_nodelay ( &tftp->timer );
 
 	/* Attach to parent interface, mortalise self, and return */
 	xfer_plug_plug ( &tftp->xfer, xfer );