diff --git a/system/athena/athenad.py b/system/athena/athenad.py
index 4c056461ac..909e99fa71 100755
--- a/system/athena/athenad.py
+++ b/system/athena/athenad.py
@@ -629,8 +629,9 @@ def log_handler(end_event: threading.Event) -> None:
 
 def stat_handler(end_event: threading.Event) -> None:
   STATS_DIR = Paths.stats_root()
+  last_scan = 0.0
+
   while not end_event.is_set():
-    last_scan = 0.
     curr_scan = time.monotonic()
     try:
       if curr_scan - last_scan > 10: