diff --git a/defaultmodules/weather/node_helper.js b/defaultmodules/weather/node_helper.js
index a83a7caf3d..4a4cbe1b84 100644
--- a/defaultmodules/weather/node_helper.js
+++ b/defaultmodules/weather/node_helper.js
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ module.exports = NodeHelper.create({
 			});
 
 			// Start periodic fetching
-			provider.start();
+			provider.start(config.initialLoadDelay);
 
 			Log.log(`Weather provider ${identifier} initialized for instance ${instanceId}`);
 		} catch (error) {
diff --git a/defaultmodules/weather/weatherprovider.js b/defaultmodules/weather/weatherprovider.js
index 8e4a541917..0ba05acff6 100644
--- a/defaultmodules/weather/weatherprovider.js
+++ b/defaultmodules/weather/weatherprovider.js
@@ -28,9 +28,12 @@ class WeatherProvider {
 		this.onErrorCallback = onError;
 	}
 
-	/** Start periodic fetching. */
-	start () {
-		this.fetcher?.startPeriodicFetch();
+	/**
+	 * Start periodic fetching.
+	 * @param {number} [initialDelay] - Delay before the first fetch in ms
+	 */
+	start (initialDelay = 0) {
+		this.fetcher?.startPeriodicFetch(initialDelay);
 	}
 
 	/** Stop periodic fetching. */
diff --git a/js/http_fetcher.js b/js/http_fetcher.js
index eca4896080..747725c53c 100644
--- a/js/http_fetcher.js
+++ b/js/http_fetcher.js
@@ -127,9 +127,16 @@ class HTTPFetcher extends EventEmitter {
 
 	/**
 	 * Starts periodic fetching
+	 * @param {number} [initialDelay] - Delay before the first fetch in ms
 	 */
-	startPeriodicFetch () {
-		this.fetch();
+	startPeriodicFetch (initialDelay = 0) {
+		this.clearTimer();
+
+		if (initialDelay > 0) {
+			this.reloadTimer = setTimeout(() => this.fetch(), initialDelay);
+		} else {
+			this.fetch();
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/tests/unit/functions/http_fetcher_spec.js b/tests/unit/functions/http_fetcher_spec.js
index 5162fb760a..b6e3900ad4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/functions/http_fetcher_spec.js
+++ b/tests/unit/functions/http_fetcher_spec.js
@@ -51,6 +51,25 @@ describe("HTTPFetcher", () => {
 			expect(text).toBe(responseData);
 		});
 
+		it("should delay the first fetch when an initial delay is configured", async () => {
+			vi.useFakeTimers();
+			const fetchSpy = vi.spyOn(globalThis, "fetch").mockResolvedValue(
+				new Response("test data")
+			);
+			fetcher = new HTTPFetcher(TEST_URL, { reloadInterval: 60000 });
+
+			fetcher.startPeriodicFetch(15000);
+
+			expect(fetchSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(14999);
+			expect(fetchSpy).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+			await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1);
+			expect(fetchSpy).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+
+			fetchSpy.mockRestore();
+			vi.useRealTimers();
+		});
+
 		it("should emit error event on network failure", async () => {
 			server.use(
 				http.get(TEST_URL, () => {