diff --git a/pkg/sentry/kernel/kernel.go b/pkg/sentry/kernel/kernel.go
index b2a98d5fa0..dee5ea4c60 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/kernel/kernel.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/kernel/kernel.go
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 //	          Task.mu
 //	            FSContext.mu
 //	      runningTasksMu
+//	        Timekeeper.updateMu
 //
 // Locking SignalHandlers.mu in multiple SignalHandlers requires locking
 // TaskSet.mu exclusively first. Locking Task.mu in multiple Tasks at the same
@@ -1607,6 +1608,11 @@ func (k *Kernel) incRunningTasks() {
 		close(k.taskActivityCh)
 		k.taskActivityCh = make(chan struct{})
 
+		// take a timekeeper reference that says alive until we transition
+		// back from 1 to 0 tasks so vDSO stays updated; this also updates
+		// the vDSO before returning if it was parked
+		k.timekeeper.addRef()
+
 		// This store must happen after the increment of k.cpuClock above to ensure
 		// that concurrent calls to Task.accountTaskGoroutineLeave() also observe
 		// the updated k.cpuClock.
@@ -1621,6 +1627,9 @@ func (k *Kernel) decRunningTasks() {
 	if tasks < 0 {
 		panic(fmt.Sprintf("Invalid running count %d", tasks))
 	}
+	if tasks == 0 {
+		k.timekeeper.release()
+	}
 
 	// Nothing to do. The next CPU clock tick will disable the timer if
 	// there is still nothing running. This provides approximately one tick
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper.go b/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper.go
index 75b2986d1d..fe27e2248d 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper.go
@@ -26,6 +26,21 @@ import (
 	"gvisor.dev/gvisor/pkg/tcpip"
 )
 
+// Possible values of Timekeeper.updaterState
+const (
+	// manually stopped
+	updaterStopped int32 = iota
+
+	// timer not armed due to being idle for a whole interval
+	updaterParked
+
+	// set when timer triggers if no tasks are running; any task running
+	// or internal timekeeper usage transitions back to updaterActive
+	updaterIdle
+
+	updaterActive
+)
+
 // Timekeeper manages all of the kernel clocks.
 //
 // +stateify savable
@@ -86,6 +101,26 @@ type Timekeeper struct {
 
 	// wg is used to indicate that the update goroutine has exited.
 	wg sync.WaitGroup `state:"nosave"`
+
+	// atomic enum with updater* values
+	//
+	// the goroutine moves it active->idle->parked (under updateMu)
+	// GetTime or 0->1 tasks moves to active if not stopped (lockless)
+	// startUpdater/stopUpdater move in/out of stopped (under updateMu)
+	updaterState atomicbitops.Int32 `state:"nosave"`
+
+	// (runningTasks > 0 ? 1 : 0) + number_of_tasks_running_GetTime
+	refs atomicbitops.Int64 `state:"nosave"`
+
+	// guards updates of the vDSO parameter page and of updaterState
+	// except for raising updaterState to active on usage
+	updateMu sync.Mutex `state:"nosave"`
+
+	// timer to periodically update the time calibration
+	timer *time.Timer `state:"nosave"`
+
+	// vDSO parameter page kept updated by the Timekeeper mechanism
+	params *VDSOParamPage `state:"nosave"`
 }
 
 // NewTimekeeper returns a Timekeeper that is automatically kept up-to-date.
@@ -170,6 +205,35 @@ func (t *Timekeeper) SetClocks(c sentrytime.Clocks, params *VDSOParamPage) {
 	}
 }
 
+// update samples the backing clocks and writes the new parameters to the VDSO
+// parameter page.
+//
+// Preconditions: updateMu must be held
+func (t *Timekeeper) update(parked bool) {
+	// Call Update within a Write block to prevent the VDSO from using the old
+	// params between Update and Write.
+	if err := t.params.Write(func() vdsoParams {
+		monotonicParams, monotonicOk, realtimeParams, realtimeOk := t.clocks.Update(parked)
+
+		var p vdsoParams
+		if monotonicOk {
+			p.monotonicReady = 1
+			p.monotonicBaseCycles = int64(monotonicParams.BaseCycles)
+			p.monotonicBaseRef = int64(monotonicParams.BaseRef) + t.monotonicOffset
+			p.monotonicFrequency = monotonicParams.Frequency
+		}
+		if realtimeOk {
+			p.realtimeReady = 1
+			p.realtimeBaseCycles = int64(realtimeParams.BaseCycles)
+			p.realtimeBaseRef = int64(realtimeParams.BaseRef)
+			p.realtimeFrequency = realtimeParams.Frequency
+		}
+		return p
+	}); err != nil {
+		log.Warningf("Unable to update VDSO parameter page: %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
 // startUpdater starts an update goroutine that keeps the clocks updated.
 //
 // mu must be held.
@@ -179,6 +243,7 @@ func (t *Timekeeper) startUpdater(params *VDSOParamPage) {
 		return
 	}
 	t.stop = make(chan struct{})
+	t.params = params
 
 	// Keep the clocks up to date.
 	//
@@ -186,47 +251,97 @@ func (t *Timekeeper) startUpdater(params *VDSOParamPage) {
 	// timer, so it may run at a *slightly* different rate from the
 	// application CLOCK_MONOTONIC. That is fine, as we only need to update
 	// at approximately this rate.
-	timer := time.NewTicker(sentrytime.ApproxUpdateInterval)
+	t.timer = time.NewTimer(sentrytime.ApproxUpdateInterval)
+	t.timer.Stop()
+
+	t.updateMu.Lock()
+	// store-then-load to synchronize with addRef
+	t.updaterState.Store(updaterParked)
+	if t.refs.Load() != 0 {
+		t.timer.Reset(sentrytime.ApproxUpdateInterval)
+		t.update(true)
+		t.updaterState.Store(updaterActive)
+	}
+	t.updateMu.Unlock()
+
 	t.wg.Add(1)
 	go func() { // S/R-SAFE: stopped during save.
 		defer t.wg.Done()
+		defer t.timer.Stop()
 		for {
-			// Start with an update immediately, so the clocks are
-			// ready ASAP.
-
-			// Call Update within a Write block to prevent the VDSO
-			// from using the old params between Update and
-			// Write.
-			if err := params.Write(func() vdsoParams {
-				monotonicParams, monotonicOk, realtimeParams, realtimeOk := t.clocks.Update()
-
-				var p vdsoParams
-				if monotonicOk {
-					p.monotonicReady = 1
-					p.monotonicBaseCycles = int64(monotonicParams.BaseCycles)
-					p.monotonicBaseRef = int64(monotonicParams.BaseRef) + t.monotonicOffset
-					p.monotonicFrequency = monotonicParams.Frequency
-				}
-				if realtimeOk {
-					p.realtimeReady = 1
-					p.realtimeBaseCycles = int64(realtimeParams.BaseCycles)
-					p.realtimeBaseRef = int64(realtimeParams.BaseRef)
-					p.realtimeFrequency = realtimeParams.Frequency
-				}
-				return p
-			}); err != nil {
-				log.Warningf("Unable to update VDSO parameter page: %v", err)
-			}
-
+			// wait until next tick or if parked until addRef is called
 			select {
-			case <-timer.C:
+			case <-t.timer.C:
 			case <-t.stop:
 				return
 			}
+
+			t.updateMu.Lock()
+
+			switch t.updaterState.Load() {
+			case updaterStopped:
+				t.updateMu.Unlock()
+				return
+
+			case updaterActive:
+				// store-then-load to synchronize with addRef
+				t.updaterState.Store(updaterIdle)
+				if t.refs.Load() != 0 {
+					t.updaterState.Store(updaterActive)
+				}
+
+			case updaterIdle:
+				// no Timekeeper usage for a whole interval: park
+				// store-then-load to synchronize with addRef
+				t.updaterState.Store(updaterParked)
+				if t.refs.Load() != 0 {
+					t.updaterState.Store(updaterActive)
+				} else {
+					t.updateMu.Unlock()
+					continue
+				}
+			}
+
+			t.timer.Reset(sentrytime.ApproxUpdateInterval)
+			t.update(false)
+			t.updateMu.Unlock()
 		}
 	}()
 }
 
+// add a reference to the Timekeeper: as long as there are references,
+// it doesn't park. Call release() to release.
+func (t *Timekeeper) addRef() {
+	// store-then-load to synchronize with the goroutine
+	t.refs.Add(1)
+	switch t.updaterState.Load() {
+	case updaterActive:
+	case updaterIdle:
+		// this is enough because the goroutine will
+		// itself recheck refs after parking
+		t.updaterState.CompareAndSwap(updaterIdle, updaterActive)
+	case updaterParked:
+		t.updateMu.Lock()
+		cur := t.updaterState.Load()
+		if cur == updaterParked {
+			t.timer.Reset(sentrytime.ApproxUpdateInterval)
+			t.update(true)
+		}
+		if cur != updaterStopped {
+			t.updaterState.Store(updaterActive)
+		}
+		t.updateMu.Unlock()
+	case updaterStopped:
+	}
+}
+
+// release drops a reference taken by addRef; when refs are 0 the timekeeper can park
+func (t *Timekeeper) release() {
+	if t.refs.Add(-1) < 0 {
+		panic("Timekeeper.release called with no reference held")
+	}
+}
+
 // stopUpdater stops the update goroutine, blocking until it exits.
 //
 // mu must be held.
@@ -236,9 +351,17 @@ func (t *Timekeeper) stopUpdater() {
 		return
 	}
 
+	// lock to ensure it can't be taken out of stopped by non-startUpdater code
+	t.updateMu.Lock()
+	t.updaterState.Store(updaterStopped)
+	t.updateMu.Unlock()
+
+	// this wakes up the goroutine
 	close(t.stop)
 	t.wg.Wait()
 	t.stop = nil
+	t.timer = nil
+	t.params = nil
 }
 
 // Destroy destroys the Timekeeper, freeing all associated resources.
@@ -250,7 +373,8 @@ func (t *Timekeeper) Destroy() {
 }
 
 // PauseUpdates stops clock parameter updates. This should only be used when
-// Tasks are not running and thus cannot access the clock.
+// Tasks are not running and thus cannot access the clock and when
+// GetTime is not being called internally
 func (t *Timekeeper) PauseUpdates() {
 	t.mu.Lock()
 	defer t.mu.Unlock()
@@ -272,6 +396,12 @@ func (t *Timekeeper) GetTime(c sentrytime.ClockID) (int64, error) {
 		}
 		<-t.restored
 	}
+
+	// update the calibration if needed and keep the timekeeper calibrated
+	// during the read
+	t.addRef()
+	defer t.release()
+
 	now, err := t.clocks.GetTime(c)
 	if err == nil && c == sentrytime.Monotonic {
 		now += t.monotonicOffset
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper_test.go b/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper_test.go
index e27da18eb8..2014067e2a 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/kernel/timekeeper_test.go
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ type mockClocks struct {
 }
 
 // Update implements sentrytime.Clocks.Update. It does nothing.
-func (*mockClocks) Update() (monotonicParams sentrytime.Parameters, monotonicOk bool, realtimeParam sentrytime.Parameters, realtimeOk bool) {
+func (*mockClocks) Update(parked bool) (monotonicParams sentrytime.Parameters, monotonicOk bool, realtimeParam sentrytime.Parameters, realtimeOk bool) {
 	return
 }
 
-// Update implements sentrytime.Clocks.GetTime.
+// GetTime implements sentrytime.Clocks.GetTime.
 func (c *mockClocks) GetTime(id sentrytime.ClockID) (int64, error) {
 	switch id {
 	case sentrytime.Monotonic:
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock.go b/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock.go
index 47df5d0a19..a73e1b8f40 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock.go
@@ -107,14 +107,15 @@ func (c *CalibratedClock) resetLocked(str string, v ...any) {
 // may need to be adjusted slightly from these values to compensate for error.
 //
 // Preconditions: c.mu must be held for writing.
-func (c *CalibratedClock) updateParams(actual Parameters) {
-	if !c.ready {
-		// At initial calibration there is nothing to correct.
+func (c *CalibratedClock) updateParams(actual Parameters, parked bool) {
+	if !c.ready || parked {
+		// when parked nothing has read the time for a whole interval, so
+		// assume errors have been compensated and recalibrate from scratch
 		c.params = actual
-		c.ready = true
-
-		c.Infof("ready")
-
+		if !c.ready {
+			c.ready = true
+			c.Infof("ready")
+		}
 		return
 	}
 
@@ -148,9 +149,12 @@ func (c *CalibratedClock) updateParams(actual Parameters) {
 // the clock is calibrated. Update should be called regularly to prevent the
 // clock from getting significantly out of sync from the reference clock.
 //
+// parked indicates that this Update resumes a parked (unobserved) period; see
+// updateParams.
+//
 // The returned timekeeping parameters are invalidated on the next call to
 // Update.
-func (c *CalibratedClock) Update() (Parameters, bool) {
+func (c *CalibratedClock) Update(parked bool) (Parameters, bool) {
 	c.mu.Lock()
 	defer c.mu.Unlock()
 
@@ -188,7 +192,7 @@ func (c *CalibratedClock) Update() (Parameters, bool) {
 		Frequency:  (minHz + maxHz) / 2,
 		BaseRef:    newest.ref,
 		BaseCycles: newest.after,
-	})
+	}, parked)
 
 	return c.params, true
 }
@@ -241,9 +245,9 @@ func NewCalibratedClocks() *CalibratedClocks {
 }
 
 // Update implements Clocks.Update.
-func (c *CalibratedClocks) Update() (Parameters, bool, Parameters, bool) {
-	monotonicParams, monotonicOk := c.monotonic.Update()
-	realtimeParams, realtimeOk := c.realtime.Update()
+func (c *CalibratedClocks) Update(parked bool) (Parameters, bool, Parameters, bool) {
+	monotonicParams, monotonicOk := c.monotonic.Update(parked)
+	realtimeParams, realtimeOk := c.realtime.Update(parked)
 
 	return monotonicParams, monotonicOk, realtimeParams, realtimeOk
 }
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock_test.go b/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock_test.go
index f0847191ce..9b671ddec6 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock_test.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/time/calibrated_clock_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestConstantFrequency(t *testing.T) {
 
 	// Update from all samples.
 	for range samples {
-		c.Update()
+		c.Update(false)
 	}
 
 	c.mu.RLock()
@@ -109,12 +109,12 @@ func TestErrorCorrection(t *testing.T) {
 			c := newTestCalibratedClock(tc.samples[:], nil)
 
 			// Initial calibration takes two updates.
-			_, ok := c.Update()
+			_, ok := c.Update(false)
 			if ok {
 				t.Fatalf("Update ready too early")
 			}
 
-			params, ok := c.Update()
+			params, ok := c.Update(false)
 			if !ok {
 				t.Fatalf("Update not ready")
 			}
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ func TestErrorCorrection(t *testing.T) {
 			}
 
 			// Update again to see the changed reference clock.
-			params, ok = c.Update()
+			params, ok = c.Update(false)
 			if !ok {
 				t.Fatalf("Update not ready")
 			}
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ func TestErrorCorrection(t *testing.T) {
 			initialErr := c.errorNS
 			t.Logf("initial error: %v ns", initialErr)
 
-			_, ok = c.Update()
+			_, ok = c.Update(false)
 			if !ok {
 				t.Fatalf("Update not ready")
 			}
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ func TestErrorCorrection(t *testing.T) {
 				t.Errorf("errorNS increased, got %v want |%v| <= |%v|", c.errorNS, c.errorNS, initialErr)
 			}
 
-			_, ok = c.Update()
+			_, ok = c.Update(false)
 			if !ok {
 				t.Fatalf("Update not ready")
 			}
diff --git a/pkg/sentry/time/clocks.go b/pkg/sentry/time/clocks.go
index 837e860944..ec69cd52a7 100644
--- a/pkg/sentry/time/clocks.go
+++ b/pkg/sentry/time/clocks.go
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ type Clocks interface {
 	// reference host clocks, and returning the new timekeeping parameters.
 	//
 	// Update should be called at approximately ApproxUpdateInterval.
-	Update() (monotonicParams Parameters, monotonicOk bool, realtimeParam Parameters, realtimeOk bool)
+	//
+	// parked indicates that the clock was not read for at least ApproxUpdateInterval
+	Update(parked bool) (monotonicParams Parameters, monotonicOk bool, realtimeParam Parameters, realtimeOk bool)
 
 	// GetTime returns the current time in nanoseconds for the given clock.
 	//