diff --git a/src/bespokelabs/curator/status_tracker/online_status_tracker.py b/src/bespokelabs/curator/status_tracker/online_status_tracker.py
index c5e2c229..2227181e 100644
--- a/src/bespokelabs/curator/status_tracker/online_status_tracker.py
+++ b/src/bespokelabs/curator/status_tracker/online_status_tracker.py
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
 import logging
 import time
-from dataclasses import dataclass, field
-
 import tqdm
 
-logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+from dataclasses import dataclass, field
+from bespokelabs.curator.request_processor.base_online_request_processor import SECONDS_TO_PAUSE_ON_RATE_LIMIT
 
+logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 @dataclass
 class OnlineStatusTracker:
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ class OnlineStatusTracker:
     max_tokens_per_minute: int = 0
     pbar: tqdm = field(default=None)
     response_cost: float = 0
-    time_of_last_rate_limit_error: float = field(default=None)
+    time_of_last_rate_limit_error: float = field(
+        default=time.time() - SECONDS_TO_PAUSE_ON_RATE_LIMIT
+    )
 
     def __str__(self):
         return (