diff --git a/src/relative-time-element.ts b/src/relative-time-element.ts
index a65d8c9..2a4d26e 100644
--- a/src/relative-time-element.ts
+++ b/src/relative-time-element.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ const dateObserver = new (class {
       const time = Date.now() + ms
       if (time < this.time) {
         clearTimeout(this.timer)
-        this.timer = setTimeout(() => this.update, ms)
+        this.timer = setTimeout(() => this.update(), ms)
         this.time = time
       }
     }
diff --git a/test/relative-time.js b/test/relative-time.js
index 0573b2f..9449aa9 100644
--- a/test/relative-time.js
+++ b/test/relative-time.js
@@ -58,6 +58,19 @@ suite('relative-time', function () {
     assert.equal(counter, 1)
   })
 
+  test('updates the time automatically when it is a few seconds ago', async function () {
+    // eslint-disable-next-line @typescript-eslint/no-invalid-this
+    this.timeout(3000)
+    const el = document.createElement('relative-time')
+    el.setAttribute('datetime', new Date(Date.now() + 25000).toISOString())
+    const display = el.shadowRoot?.textContent || el.textContent
+    assert.match(display, /in \d+ seconds/)
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 2000))
+    const nextDisplay = el.shadowRoot.textContent || el.textContent
+    assert.match(nextDisplay, /in \d+ seconds/)
+    assert.notEqual(nextDisplay, display)
+  })
+
   test("doesn't error when no date is provided", function () {
     const element = document.createElement('relative-time')
     assert.doesNotThrow(() => element.attributeChangedCallback('datetime', null, null))