diff --git a/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go b/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go
index 1faed009bbc..d96365a2edc 100644
--- a/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go
+++ b/pkg/kubelet/prober/worker.go
@@ -99,6 +99,11 @@ func newWorker(
 // run periodically probes the container.
 func (w *worker) run() {
 	probeTickerPeriod := time.Duration(w.spec.PeriodSeconds) * time.Second
+
+	// If kubelet restarted the probes could be started in rapid succession.
+	// Let the worker wait for a random portion of tickerPeriod before probing.
+	time.Sleep(time.Duration(rand.Float64() * float64(probeTickerPeriod)))
+
 	probeTicker := time.NewTicker(probeTickerPeriod)
 
 	defer func() {
@@ -111,10 +116,6 @@ func (w *worker) run() {
 		w.probeManager.removeWorker(w.pod.UID, w.container.Name, w.probeType)
 	}()
 
-	// If kubelet restarted the probes could be started in rapid succession.
-	// Let the worker wait for a random portion of tickerPeriod before probing.
-	time.Sleep(time.Duration(rand.Float64() * float64(probeTickerPeriod)))
-
 probeLoop:
 	for w.doProbe() {
 		// Wait for next probe tick.