diff --git a/sys/net/bridge/bridgestp.c b/sys/net/bridge/bridgestp.c
--- a/sys/net/bridge/bridgestp.c
+++ b/sys/net/bridge/bridgestp.c
@@ -1462,6 +1462,8 @@
 	if (bstp_timer_expired(&sc->sc_tcn_timer, sc->sc_bridge_hello_time))
 		bstp_tcn_timer_expiry(sc);
 
+	if (sc->sc_topology_change_time == 0)
+		sc->sc_topology_change_time = sc->sc_bridge_max_age;
 	if (bstp_timer_expired(&sc->sc_topology_change_timer,
 	    sc->sc_topology_change_time))
 		bstp_topology_change_timer_expiry(sc);