diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Core/Configuration/HealthChecks/HealthCheckNotificationSettingsElement.cs b/src/Umbraco.Core/Configuration/HealthChecks/HealthCheckNotificationSettingsElement.cs
index 8c533d9bac..0cb89be12f 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Core/Configuration/HealthChecks/HealthCheckNotificationSettingsElement.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Core/Configuration/HealthChecks/HealthCheckNotificationSettingsElement.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace Umbraco.Core.Configuration.HealthChecks
             }
         }
 
-        [ConfigurationProperty(FIRST_RUN_TIME_KEY, IsRequired = true)]
+        [ConfigurationProperty(FIRST_RUN_TIME_KEY, IsRequired = false)]
         public string FirstRunTime
         {
             get
diff --git a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs
index 85a5843486..6e470ad145 100644
--- a/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs
+++ b/src/Umbraco.Web/Scheduling/Scheduler.cs
@@ -78,11 +78,21 @@ namespace Umbraco.Web.Scheduling
 
                 if (healthCheckConfig.NotificationSettings.Enabled)
                 {
-                    var delayInMilliseconds = DateTime.Now.PeriodicMinutesFrom(healthCheckConfig.NotificationSettings.FirstRunTime) * 60 * 1000;
-                    if (delayInMilliseconds < DelayMilliseconds)
+                    // If first run time not set, start with just small delay after application start
+                    int delayInMilliseconds;
+                    if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(healthCheckConfig.NotificationSettings.FirstRunTime))
                     {
                         delayInMilliseconds = DelayMilliseconds;
                     }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        // Otherwise start at scheduled time
+                        delayInMilliseconds = DateTime.Now.PeriodicMinutesFrom(healthCheckConfig.NotificationSettings.FirstRunTime) * 60 * 1000;
+                        if (delayInMilliseconds < DelayMilliseconds)
+                        {
+                            delayInMilliseconds = DelayMilliseconds;
+                        }
+                    }
 
                     var periodInMilliseconds = healthCheckConfig.NotificationSettings.PeriodInHours * 60 * 60 * 1000;
                     tasks.Add(new HealthCheckNotifier(_healthCheckRunner, delayInMilliseconds, periodInMilliseconds, e.UmbracoContext.Application));