diff --git a/osu.Game.Tests/Gameplay/TestSceneMasterGameplayClockContainer.cs b/osu.Game.Tests/Gameplay/TestSceneMasterGameplayClockContainer.cs
index 77b402ad3c..0ed432bbea 100644
--- a/osu.Game.Tests/Gameplay/TestSceneMasterGameplayClockContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game.Tests/Gameplay/TestSceneMasterGameplayClockContainer.cs
@@ -85,10 +85,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Tests.Gameplay
 
                 Add(gameplayClockContainer = new MasterGameplayClockContainer(working, 0));
 
-                if (whileStopped)
-                    gameplayClockContainer.Stop();
-
-                gameplayClockContainer.Reset();
+                gameplayClockContainer.Reset(startClock: !whileStopped);
             });
 
             AddStep($"set clock rate to {clockRate}", () => working.Track.AddAdjustment(AdjustableProperty.Frequency, new BindableDouble(clockRate)));
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/Spectate/MultiSpectatorPlayer.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/Spectate/MultiSpectatorPlayer.cs
index 615bd41f3f..ececa1e497 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/Spectate/MultiSpectatorPlayer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/OnlinePlay/Multiplayer/Spectate/MultiSpectatorPlayer.cs
@@ -55,8 +55,6 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.OnlinePlay.Multiplayer.Spectate
             public SpectatorGameplayClockContainer([NotNull] IClock sourceClock)
                 : base(sourceClock)
             {
-                // the container should initially be in a stopped state until the catch-up clock is started by the sync manager.
-                Stop();
             }
 
             protected override void Update()
diff --git a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/GameplayClockContainer.cs b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/GameplayClockContainer.cs
index 66f5cb0bd4..226f5709c7 100644
--- a/osu.Game/Screens/Play/GameplayClockContainer.cs
+++ b/osu.Game/Screens/Play/GameplayClockContainer.cs
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
         /// <summary>
         /// Whether gameplay is paused.
         /// </summary>
-        public readonly BindableBool IsPaused = new BindableBool();
+        public readonly BindableBool IsPaused = new BindableBool(true);
 
         /// <summary>
         /// The adjustable source clock used for gameplay. Should be used for seeks and clock control.
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
         /// <summary>
         /// Resets this <see cref="GameplayClockContainer"/> and the source to an initial state ready for gameplay.
         /// </summary>
-        /// <param name="startClock">Whether to start the clock immediately.</param>
+        /// <param name="startClock">Whether to start the clock immediately, if not already started.</param>
         /// <param name="gameplayStartTime">A time to use for future <see cref="Reset"/> calls as the definite start of gameplay.</param>
         public void Reset(bool startClock = false, double? gameplayStartTime = null)
         {
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ namespace osu.Game.Screens.Play
             // Manually stop the source in order to not affect the IsPaused state.
             AdjustableSource.Stop();
 
-            if (!IsPaused.Value && startClock)
+            if (!IsPaused.Value || startClock)
                 Start();
         }