diff --git a/userspace/falco/stats_writer.cpp b/userspace/falco/stats_writer.cpp
index 9aa2922d..8d6dee4a 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/stats_writer.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/stats_writer.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ void stats_writer::worker() noexcept {
 
 		// this helps waiting for the first tick
 		tick = stats_writer::get_ticker();
-		if(first_tick != tick) {
+		if(m_first_run || first_tick != tick) {
 			if(last_tick != tick) {
 				m_total_samples++;
 			}
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ void stats_writer::worker() noexcept {
 				                  "stats_writer (worker): " + std::string(e.what()) + "\n");
 			}
 		}
+		m_first_run = false;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -638,7 +639,7 @@ void stats_writer::collector::collect(const std::shared_ptr<sinsp>& inspector,
 #endif
 		/* Collect stats / metrics once per ticker period. */
 		auto tick = stats_writer::get_ticker();
-		if(tick != m_last_tick) {
+		if(m_first_run || tick != m_last_tick) {
 			m_last_tick = tick;
 			auto now = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::nanoseconds>(
 			                   std::chrono::system_clock::now().time_since_epoch())
@@ -659,7 +660,10 @@ void stats_writer::collector::collect(const std::shared_ptr<sinsp>& inspector,
 			                                  num_evts,
 			                                  now,
 			                                  stats_snapshot_time_delta_sec);
-			get_metrics_output_fields_additional(output_fields, stats_snapshot_time_delta_sec);
+			if(!m_first_run) {
+				get_metrics_output_fields_additional(output_fields, stats_snapshot_time_delta_sec);
+			}
+			m_first_run = false;
 
 			/* Send message in the queue */
 			stats_writer::msg msg;
diff --git a/userspace/falco/stats_writer.h b/userspace/falco/stats_writer.h
index 0dd0a7ff..53c7f45b 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/stats_writer.h
+++ b/userspace/falco/stats_writer.h
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ public:
 		                                          double stats_snapshot_time_delta_sec);
 
 		std::shared_ptr<stats_writer> m_writer;
+		bool m_first_run = true;
 		stats_writer::ticker_t m_last_tick = 0;
 		uint64_t m_last_now = 0;
 		uint64_t m_last_n_evts = 0;
@@ -144,6 +145,7 @@ private:
 	inline void push(const stats_writer::msg& m);
 
 	bool m_initialized = false;
+	bool m_first_run = true;
 	uint64_t m_total_samples = 0;
 	std::thread m_worker;
 	std::ofstream m_file_output;