diff --git a/pkg/promtail/target.go b/pkg/promtail/target.go
index f6bd65b236dafdd2803859d9d584a36977bc5049..d271328ac2a960bffc91470be1f32f1b0724964c 100644
--- a/pkg/promtail/target.go
+++ b/pkg/promtail/target.go
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ func (t *tailer) run() {
 
 	level.Info(t.logger).Log("msg", "start tailing file", "filename", t.path)
 	positionSyncPeriod := t.positions.cfg.SyncPeriod
-	positionWait := time.NewTimer(positionSyncPeriod)
+	positionWait := time.NewTicker(positionSyncPeriod)
 	defer positionWait.Stop()
 
 	for {