diff --git a/src/timer.cpp b/src/timer.cpp
index 0e670ca..2c60202 100644
--- a/src/timer.cpp
+++ b/src/timer.cpp
@@ -12,6 +12,22 @@ void sc::timer::callback(union sigval sv) {
     self->_expired_func(*self);
 }
 
+void sc::timer::setup_timer(double time, bool repeat) {
+    time_t secs = floor(time / 1000);
+    long ns = (time - 1000 * secs) * 1000000;
+    struct itimerspec its;
+    its.it_value.tv_sec = secs;
+    its.it_value.tv_nsec = ns;
+    if (repeat) {
+        its.it_interval.tv_sec = secs;
+        its.it_interval.tv_nsec = ns;
+    } else {
+        its.it_interval.tv_sec = 0;
+        its.it_interval.tv_nsec = 0;
+    }
+    throw_if_min1_msg(timer_settime(_tid, 0, &its, nullptr), "could not set timer");
+}
+
 sc::timer::timer(double time,
                  bool repeat,
                  void(*expired_func)(const timer&),
@@ -29,19 +45,7 @@ sc::timer::timer(double time,
     se.sigev_notify_function = callback;
     se.sigev_notify_attributes = nullptr;
     throw_if_min1_msg(timer_create(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &se, &_tid), "could not create timer");
-    time_t secs = floor(time / 1000);
-    long ns = (time - 1000 * secs) * 1000000;
-    struct itimerspec its;
-    its.it_value.tv_sec = secs;
-    its.it_value.tv_nsec = ns;
-    if (repeat) {
-        its.it_interval.tv_sec = secs;
-        its.it_interval.tv_nsec = ns;
-    } else {
-        its.it_interval.tv_sec = 0;
-        its.it_interval.tv_nsec = 0;
-    }
-    throw_if_min1_msg(timer_settime(_tid, 0, &its, nullptr), "could not set timer");
+    setup_timer(time, repeat);
 }
 
 sc::timer::~timer() {
@@ -63,3 +67,26 @@ bool sc::timer::is_armed() const {
     time_left(its);
     return its.it_value.tv_sec != 0 || its.it_value.tv_nsec != 0;
 }
+
+void sc::timer::stop() {
+    if (is_armed()) {
+        struct itimerspec its;
+        its.it_value.tv_sec = 0;
+        its.it_value.tv_nsec = 0;
+        its.it_interval.tv_sec = 0;
+        its.it_interval.tv_nsec = 0;
+        throw_if_min1_msg(timer_settime(_tid, 0, &its, nullptr), "could not stop timer");
+    }
+}
+
+void sc::timer::start() {
+    if (!is_armed()) {
+        setup_timer(_time, _repeat);
+    }
+}
+
+void sc::timer::start(double time, bool repeat) {
+    if (!is_armed()) {
+        setup_timer(time, repeat);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/timer.hpp b/src/timer.hpp
index a171d84..18b817b 100644
--- a/src/timer.hpp
+++ b/src/timer.hpp
@@ -17,8 +17,6 @@ namespace sc {
         mutable void* _context {};
         timer_t _tid;
 
-        static void callback(union sigval);
-
         public:
             timer(double time,
                   bool repeat,
@@ -34,6 +32,15 @@ namespace sc {
             bool is_armed() const;
             void time_left(struct itimerspec& cur_value) const;
             double time_left() const;
+
+            void stop();
+            void start();
+            void start(double time, bool repeat);
+
+        private:
+            static void callback(union sigval);
+
+            void setup_timer(double time, bool repeat);
     };
 
 }