diff --git a/src/ClockTool.cc b/src/ClockTool.cc
index 514d45de..f11a7935 100644
--- a/src/ClockTool.cc
+++ b/src/ClockTool.cc
@@ -52,10 +52,19 @@ const char SWITCHES_12_24H[] = "lIrkHT";
 const char SWITCHES_24_12H[] = "kHTlIr";
 const char SWITCH_AM_PM[] = "pP";
 
-uint64_t calcNextTimeout() {
+int showSeconds(const std::string& fmt) {
+
+    return FbTk::StringUtil::findCharFromAlphabetAfterTrigger(
+                    fmt, '%', SWITCHES_SECONDS, sizeof(SWITCHES_SECONDS), 0) != std::string::npos;
+}
+
+uint64_t calcNextTimeout(const std::string& fmt) {
 
     uint64_t now = FbTk::FbTime::system();
     uint64_t unit = FbTk::FbTime::IN_SECONDS;
+    if (!showSeconds(fmt)) { // microseconds till next full minute
+         unit *= 60L;
+    }
     return FbTk::FbTime::remainingNext(now, unit);
 }
 
@@ -289,8 +298,7 @@ void ClockTool::updateTime() {
     }
 
 restart_timer:
-    m_timer.setTimeout(calcNextTimeout());
-    m_timer.start();
+    m_timer.setTimeout(calcNextTimeout(*m_timeformat), true);
 }
 
 // Just change things that affect the size
diff --git a/src/FbTk/Timer.cc b/src/FbTk/Timer.cc
index 18065571..61875f7f 100644
--- a/src/FbTk/Timer.cc
+++ b/src/FbTk/Timer.cc
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ Timer::~Timer() {
 }
 
 
-void Timer::setTimeout(uint64_t timeout) {
+void Timer::setTimeout(uint64_t timeout, bool force_start) {
 
     bool was_timing = isTiming();
     if (was_timing) {
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ void Timer::setTimeout(uint64_t timeout) {
     }
     m_timeout = timeout;
 
-    if (was_timing) {
+    if (force_start || was_timing) {
         start();
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/FbTk/Timer.hh b/src/FbTk/Timer.hh
index 4bdd13ab..8904a853 100644
--- a/src/FbTk/Timer.hh
+++ b/src/FbTk/Timer.hh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
     ~Timer();
 
     void fireOnce(bool once) { m_once = once; }
-    void setTimeout(uint64_t timeout);
+    void setTimeout(uint64_t timeout, bool force_start = false);
     void setCommand(const RefCount<Slot<void> > &cmd);
 
     template<typename Functor>