diff --git a/monitor/json_parser.cpp b/monitor/json_parser.cpp
index 227530f..51df226 100644
--- a/monitor/json_parser.cpp
+++ b/monitor/json_parser.cpp
@@ -191,6 +191,13 @@
             funcDelay = fan["functional_delay"].get<size_t>();
         }
 
+        // Monitor start delay is optional and defaults to 0
+        size_t monitorDelay = 0;
+        if (fan.contains("monitor_start_delay"))
+        {
+            monitorDelay = fan["monitor_start_delay"].get<size_t>();
+        }
+
         // Handle optional conditions
         auto cond = std::optional<Condition>();
         if (fan.contains("condition"))
@@ -221,13 +228,12 @@
                     entry("JSON_DUMP=%s", fan["condition"].dump().c_str()));
             }
         }
-
         fanDefs.emplace_back(
             std::tuple(fan["inventory"].get<std::string>(), funcDelay,
                        fan["allowed_out_of_range_time"].get<size_t>(),
                        fan["deviation"].get<size_t>(),
                        fan["num_sensors_nonfunc_for_fan_nonfunc"].get<size_t>(),
-                       sensorDefs, cond));
+                       monitorDelay, sensorDefs, cond));
     }
 
     return fanDefs;