diff --git a/lib/gossip/damper.js b/lib/gossip/damper.js
index c080e264..fd6391c1 100644
--- a/lib/gossip/damper.js
+++ b/lib/gossip/damper.js
@@ -53,13 +53,14 @@ function Damper(opts) {
     // removes them.
     this.dampedMembers = {}; // indexed by address
 
-    this.isDampTimerEnabled = false;
     // This damp timer runs only when there are flappy members
     // add to the flappers collection above.
+    this.isDampTimerEnabled = false;
     this.dampTimer = null;
 
     // The expiration timer runs only when there are damped members
     // in the dampedMembers collection above.
+    this.isExpirationTimerEnabled = false;
     this.expirationTimer = null;
 }
 
@@ -161,7 +162,6 @@ Damper.prototype.addFlapper = function addFlapper(flapper) {
 };
 
 Damper.prototype.dampMember = function dampMember(addr)  {
-    var self = this;
     var member = this.ringpop.membership.findMemberByAddress(addr);
 
     if (!member) {
@@ -187,22 +187,11 @@ Damper.prototype.dampMember = function dampMember(addr)  {
     this.removeFlapper(member.address);
     this.addDampedMember(member.address);
 
-    if (!this.expirationTimer) {
-        scheduleExpiration();
-        this.logger.info('ringpop started damped member expiration timer', {
-            local: this.ringpop.whoami()
-        });
+    if (!this.isExpirationTimerEnabled) {
+        this._startExpirationTimer();
     }
 
     return true;
-
-    function scheduleExpiration() {
-        self.expirationTimer =
-            self.timers.setTimeout(function onTimeout() {
-                self.expireDampedMembers();
-                scheduleExpiration();
-        }, self.ringpop.config.get('dampedMemberExpirationInterval'));
-    }
 };
 
 Damper.prototype.expireDampedMembers = function expireDampedMembers() {
@@ -480,6 +469,31 @@ Damper.prototype._startDampTimer = function _startDampTimer() {
     }
 };
 
+Damper.prototype._startExpirationTimer = function _startExpirationTimer() {
+    var self = this;
+
+    if (this.isExpirationTimerEnabled) {
+        this.logger.debug('ringpop damper expiration timer already started', {
+            local: this.ringpop.whoami()
+        });
+        return;
+    }
+
+    this.isExpirationTimerEnabled = true;
+    schedule();
+    this.logger.debug('ringpop damper expiration timer started', {
+        local: this.ringpop.whoami()
+    });
+
+    function schedule() {
+        self.expirationTimer =
+            self.timers.setTimeout(function onTimeout() {
+                self.expireDampedMembers();
+                if (self.isExpirationTimerEnabled) schedule();
+        }, self.ringpop.config.get('dampedMemberExpirationInterval'));
+    }
+};
+
 Damper.prototype._stopDampTimer = function _stopDampTimer() {
     if (!this.isDampTimerEnabled) {
         this.logger.debug('ringpop damper already stopped damp timer', {
@@ -497,7 +511,7 @@ Damper.prototype._stopDampTimer = function _stopDampTimer() {
 };
 
 Damper.prototype._stopExpirationTimer = function _stopExpirationTimer() {
-    if (!this.expirationTimer) {
+    if (!this.isExpirationTimerEnabled) {
         this.logger.debug('ringpop damper expiration timer already stopped', {
             local: this.ringpop.whoami()
         });
@@ -506,6 +520,7 @@ Damper.prototype._stopExpirationTimer = function _stopExpirationTimer() {
 
     this.timers.clearTimeout(this.expirationTimer);
     this.expirationTimer = null;
+    this.isExpirationTimerEnabled = false;
     this.logger.info('ringpop damper stopped expiration timer', {
         local: this.ringpop.whoami()
     });