diff --git a/app/main.py b/app/main.py
index aa638ff..88d50a1 100644
--- a/app/main.py
+++ b/app/main.py
@@ -69,6 +69,11 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
     # same external_id hash, so dedup is automatic. Whoever sees the post
     # first wins. Offset by half the interval so the two pollers don't
     # hammer the network at the same instant.
+    # Offset the fallback by half the interval so the two pollers don't hit
+    # upstream at the same instant. APScheduler treats next_run_time=None as
+    # "paused" (job never fires) — must be an actual datetime.
+    from datetime import datetime as _dt, timezone as _tz, timedelta as _td
+    offset = settings.truth_social_poll_seconds // 2
     _scheduler.add_job(
         poll_trumpstruth,
         "interval",
@@ -77,7 +82,7 @@ async def lifespan(app: FastAPI):
         id="trumpstruth_poll",
         max_instances=1,
         coalesce=True,
-        next_run_time=None,  # APScheduler will pick a fresh slot
+        next_run_time=_dt.now(_tz.utc) + _td(seconds=offset),
     )
     _scheduler.start()
     logger.info(