diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index 1e623eae8..caa6d8c22 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -347,8 +347,19 @@ async function main() {
   const snapshotConfig = loadSnapshotConfig();
   if (snapshotConfig.enabled) {
     registerSnapshotFunction(sdk, kv, snapshotConfig.dir);
+    const snapshotIntervalMs = snapshotConfig.interval * 1000;
+    if (snapshotIntervalMs > 0) {
+      const snapshotTimer = setInterval(async () => {
+        try {
+          await sdk.trigger({ function_id: "mem::snapshot-create", payload: {} });
+        } catch {}
+      }, snapshotIntervalMs);
+      snapshotTimer.unref();
+    }
     bootLog(
-      `Git snapshots: ${snapshotConfig.dir} (every ${snapshotConfig.interval}s)`,
+      snapshotIntervalMs > 0
+        ? `Git snapshots: ${snapshotConfig.dir} (every ${snapshotConfig.interval}s)`
+        : `Git snapshots: ${snapshotConfig.dir} (periodic timer disabled, SNAPSHOT_INTERVAL=0 — manual trigger only)`,
     );
   }