diff --git a/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c b/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c
index ff4414c561..e026c3603c 100644
--- a/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c
+++ b/drivers/timer/cortex_m_systick.c
@@ -314,9 +314,9 @@ static int sys_clock_driver_init(void)
 {
 
 	NVIC_SetPriority(SysTick_IRQn, _IRQ_PRIO_OFFSET);
-	last_load = CYC_PER_TICK - 1;
+	last_load = CYC_PER_TICK;
 	overflow_cyc = 0U;
-	SysTick->LOAD = last_load;
+	SysTick->LOAD = last_load - 1;
 	SysTick->VAL = 0; /* resets timer to last_load */
 	SysTick->CTRL |= (SysTick_CTRL_ENABLE_Msk |
 			  SysTick_CTRL_TICKINT_Msk |