diff --git a/Framework/AnalysisSupport/src/AODJAlienReaderHelpers.cxx b/Framework/AnalysisSupport/src/AODJAlienReaderHelpers.cxx
index e101288bf5b83..d11b171f9dcc7 100644
--- a/Framework/AnalysisSupport/src/AODJAlienReaderHelpers.cxx
+++ b/Framework/AnalysisSupport/src/AODJAlienReaderHelpers.cxx
@@ -410,7 +410,12 @@ AlgorithmSpec AODJAlienReaderHelpers::rootFileReaderCallback(ConfigContext const
             transitionTo(TFReaderState::READ_FIRST_TABLE_FROM_NEXT_FILE);
             break;
           case TFReaderState::INVALID_TIMEFRAME:
-            return;
+            // Returning would leak this callback's timeslice offer, so read the next timeframe.
+            messageContext.clear();
+            ++ntf;
+            routeIndex = 0;
+            transitionTo(TFReaderState::READ_FIRST_TABLE);
+            break;
           case TFReaderState::TIMEFRAME_READ:
             break;
         }