diff --git a/addons/im_livechat/models/mail_channel.py b/addons/im_livechat/models/mail_channel.py
index 2119baf38cc..eded0ff17da 100644
--- a/addons/im_livechat/models/mail_channel.py
+++ b/addons/im_livechat/models/mail_channel.py
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ class MailChannel(models.Model):
 
     @api.model
     def cron_remove_empty_session(self):
+        hours = 1 # never remove empty session created within the last hour
         self.env.cr.execute("""
             SELECT id as id
             FROM mail_channel C
@@ -65,7 +66,8 @@ class MailChannel(models.Model):
                 SELECT *
                 FROM mail_message_mail_channel_rel R
                 WHERE R.mail_channel_id = C.id
-            ) AND C.channel_type = 'livechat' AND livechat_channel_id IS NOT NULL;
-        """)
+            ) AND C.channel_type = 'livechat' AND livechat_channel_id IS NOT NULL AND
+                COALESCE(write_date, create_date, (now() at time zone 'UTC'))::timestamp
+                < ((now() at time zone 'UTC') - interval %s)""", ("%s hours" % hours,))
         empty_channel_ids = [item['id'] for item in self.env.cr.dictfetchall()]
         self.browse(empty_channel_ids).unlink()