diff --git a/fs/accounting/stats_groups.go b/fs/accounting/stats_groups.go
index 7be1597a3..9c293e8b8 100644
--- a/fs/accounting/stats_groups.go
+++ b/fs/accounting/stats_groups.go
@@ -2,9 +2,8 @@ package accounting
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"sync"
-
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs/rc"
+	"sync"
 
 	"github.com/rclone/rclone/fs"
 )
@@ -349,6 +348,7 @@ func (sg *statsGroups) names() []string {
 
 // sum returns aggregate stats that contains summation of all groups.
 func (sg *statsGroups) sum(ctx context.Context) *StatsInfo {
+	startTime := GlobalStats().startTime
 	sg.mu.Lock()
 	defer sg.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -377,6 +377,7 @@ func (sg *statsGroups) sum(ctx context.Context) *StatsInfo {
 		}
 		stats.mu.RUnlock()
 	}
+	sum.startTime = startTime
 	return sum
 }