diff --git a/debian/rules b/debian/rules
index abec2feed0..b172d1680e 100755
--- a/debian/rules
+++ b/debian/rules
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ override_dh_systemd_enable:
 	dh_systemd_enable -pubuntu-pro-client ua-reboot-cmds.service
 	dh_systemd_enable -pubuntu-pro-client ua-timer.timer
 	dh_systemd_enable -pubuntu-pro-client ua-timer.service
+	dh_systemd_enable -pubuntu-pro-client ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service
 	dh_systemd_enable -pubuntu-pro-client ubuntu-advantage.service
 ifeq (${VERSION_ID},"16.04")
 	# Only enable cloud-id-shim on Xenial
diff --git a/features/cli/collect_logs.feature b/features/cli/collect_logs.feature
index 58141a631c..3a95cfeb6a 100644
--- a/features/cli/collect_logs.feature
+++ b/features/cli/collect_logs.feature
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ Feature: CLI collect-logs command
       pro-journal.txt
       pro-status.json
       systemd-timers.txt
+      ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service.txt
       ua-auto-attach.path.txt(-error)?
       ua-auto-attach.service.txt(-error)?
       uaclient.conf
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ Feature: CLI collect-logs command
       pro-journal.txt
       pro-status.json
       systemd-timers.txt
+      ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service.txt
       ua-auto-attach.path.txt(-error)?
       ua-auto-attach.service.txt(-error)?
       uaclient.conf
diff --git a/lib/timer.py b/lib/timer.py
index 9b7ff18695..e1fece10d8 100644
--- a/lib/timer.py
+++ b/lib/timer.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 Timer used to run all jobs that need to be frequently run on the system
 """
 
+import argparse
 import logging
 from datetime import datetime, timedelta, timezone
 from typing import Callable, Optional
@@ -27,6 +28,17 @@
 CHECK_RELEASE_SERIES_INTERVAL = 86400  # 24 hours
 
 
+def parse_arguments():
+    """Parse command line arguments for the timer file"""
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Run timer jobs")
+    parser.add_argument(
+        "--run-on-boot",
+        action="store_true",
+        help="Run the metering job on boot, bypassing the normal schedule to ping the server",  # noqa
+    )
+    return parser.parse_args()
+
+
 class TimedJob:
     def __init__(
         self,
@@ -124,10 +136,11 @@ def run_job(
     job: TimedJob,
     current_time: datetime,
     job_status: Optional[TimerJobState],
+    ignore_interval: bool = False,
 ) -> Optional[TimerJobState]:
     if job_status:
         next_run = job_status.next_run
-        if next_run and next_run > current_time:
+        if next_run and next_run > current_time and not ignore_interval:
             return job_status
     if job.run(cfg):
         # Persist last_run and next_run UTC-based times on job success.
@@ -136,7 +149,6 @@ def run_job(
             seconds=job.run_interval_seconds(cfg)
         )
         job_status = TimerJobState(next_run=next_run, last_run=last_run)
-
     return job_status
 
 
@@ -180,10 +192,14 @@ def run_jobs(cfg: UAConfig, current_time: datetime):
 
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     log.setup_journald_logging()
+    args = parse_arguments()
 
     cfg = UAConfig()
     current_time = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
 
     http.configure_web_proxy(cfg.http_proxy, cfg.https_proxy)
 
-    run_jobs(cfg=cfg, current_time=current_time)
+    if args.run_on_boot:
+        run_job(cfg, metering_job, current_time, None, ignore_interval=True)
+    else:
+        run_jobs(cfg=cfg, current_time=current_time)
diff --git a/systemd/ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service b/systemd/ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ec84547ab4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/systemd/ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+# On clones of machines that are currently attached, an activity ping
+# is required on boot to detect the clones
+# This requires using the ua-timer to update the activity id immediately
+
+[Unit]
+Description=Ubuntu Pro clone detection activity ping on boot
+After=network.target network-online.target systemd-networkd.service ua-auto-attach.service
+Wants=network-online.target
+
+[Service]
+Type=oneshot
+ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 /usr/lib/ubuntu-advantage/timer.py --run-on-boot
+TimeoutSec=0
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/uaclient/actions.py b/uaclient/actions.py
index e6b18f2878..fd2a86203b 100644
--- a/uaclient/actions.py
+++ b/uaclient/actions.py
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@
 UA_SERVICES = (
     "apt-news.service",
     "esm-cache.service",
+    "ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service",
     "ua-timer.service",
     "ua-timer.timer",
     "ua-auto-attach.path",
diff --git a/uaclient/cli/tests/test_cli_collect_logs.py b/uaclient/cli/tests/test_cli_collect_logs.py
index 865e11917c..d64320fa1c 100644
--- a/uaclient/cli/tests/test_cli_collect_logs.py
+++ b/uaclient/cli/tests/test_cli_collect_logs.py
@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ def test_collect_logs(
                     "-u",
                     "esm-cache.service",
                     "-u",
+                    "ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service",
+                    "-u",
                     "ua-timer.service",
                     "-u",
                     "ua-auto-attach.service",
@@ -121,6 +123,10 @@ def test_collect_logs(
             mock.call(
                 ["systemctl", "status", "esm-cache.service"], rcs=[0, 3]
             ),
+            mock.call(
+                ["systemctl", "status", "ua-activity-ping-on-boot.service"],
+                rcs=[0, 3],  # noqa
+            ),
             mock.call(["systemctl", "status", "ua-timer.service"], rcs=[0, 3]),
             mock.call(["systemctl", "status", "ua-timer.timer"], rcs=[0, 3]),
             mock.call(