diff --git a/src/notification-server.c b/src/notification-server.c
index 2c86575..c40e8ea 100644
--- a/src/notification-server.c
+++ b/src/notification-server.c
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@
 
 	DEBUG("Prepare to execute subscription.");
 	/* create requests */
-	rpc = nc_rpc_subscribe(stream, filter, (start_time == 0)?NULL:&start, (stop_time == 0)?NULL:&stop);
+	rpc = nc_rpc_subscribe(stream, filter, (start_time == -1)?NULL:&start, (stop_time == 0)?NULL:&stop);
 	nc_filter_free(filter);
 	if (rpc == NULL) {
 		DEBUG("notifications: creating an rpc request failed.");