diff --git a/server/routes/games.ts b/server/routes/games.ts
index 905566a..90dd9b8 100755
--- a/server/routes/games.ts
+++ b/server/routes/games.ts
@@ -2342,7 +2342,15 @@ const pass = (game: Game, session: Session): string | undefined => {
   if (!next || !next.player) {
     return `Unable to find the next player to pass to.`;
   }
-  session.player.totalTime += Date.now() - session.player.turnStart;
+  // Only accumulate totalTime if turnStart is a valid timestamp
+  if (session.player.turnStart && typeof session.player.turnStart === 'number' && session.player.turnStart > 0) {
+    const delta = Date.now() - session.player.turnStart;
+    if (!isNaN(delta) && delta > 0) {
+      session.player.totalTime += delta;
+    }
+  } else {
+    console.warn(`${session.short}: pass() called but player.turnStart is not set; skipping time accumulation.`);
+  }
   session.player.turnNotice = '';
   game.turn = newTurn(next.player);
   next.player.turnStart = Date.now();
@@ -3099,7 +3107,17 @@ const placeRoad = (game: Game, session: Session, index: number): string | undefi
           }
 
           addChatMessage(game, null, `Everyone has placed their two settlements!`);
-
+          // Ensure the first player's turn timer and turnStart are initialized
+          if (game.turn && game.turn.color) {
+            const firstSession = sessionFromColor(game, game.turn.color);
+            if (firstSession && firstSession.player) {
+              // initialize turnStart if not already set
+              if (!firstSession.player.turnStart || firstSession.player.turnStart === 0) {
+                firstSession.player.turnStart = Date.now();
+              }
+              startTurnTimer(game, firstSession);
+            }
+          }
           /* Figure out which players received which resources for their
            * initial (second) settlement placement. This mirrors the original
            * behaviour where the player receives resources adjacent to their