diff --git a/src/link_prober/LinkProber.cpp b/src/link_prober/LinkProber.cpp
index 57438ecb..d974f01f 100644
--- a/src/link_prober/LinkProber.cpp
+++ b/src/link_prober/LinkProber.cpp
@@ -299,9 +299,10 @@ void LinkProber::sendHeartbeat()
 {
     MUXLOGTRACE(mMuxPortConfig.getPortName());
 
+    updateIcmpSequenceNo();
+    
     // check if suspend timer is running
     if ((!mSuspendTx) && (!mShutdownTx)) {
-        updateIcmpSequenceNo();
         boost::system::error_code errorCode;
         mStream.write_some(boost::asio::buffer(mTxBuffer.data(), mTxPacketSize), errorCode);
 
diff --git a/test/LinkProberTest.cpp b/test/LinkProberTest.cpp
index 2d170455..a5e0a1f7 100644
--- a/test/LinkProberTest.cpp
+++ b/test/LinkProberTest.cpp
@@ -160,6 +160,17 @@ TEST_F(LinkProberTest, UpdateSequenceNo)
 
     EXPECT_TRUE(getRxSelfSeqNo() + 1 == ntohs(icmpHeader->un.echo.sequence));
     EXPECT_TRUE(getRxPeerSeqNo() + 1 == ntohs(icmpHeader->un.echo.sequence));
+
+    // sequence number should still be updated when heartbeat is suspended
+    EXPECT_EQ(getRxSelfSeqNo(), 0);
+    EXPECT_EQ(getRxPeerSeqNo(), 0);
+
+    handleSuspendTxProbes();
+    EXPECT_TRUE(getSuspendTx());
+    
+    handleSendHeartbeat();
+    EXPECT_EQ(getRxSelfSeqNo(), 1);
+    EXPECT_EQ(getRxPeerSeqNo(), 1);
 }
 
 TEST_F(LinkProberTest, GenerateGuid)
diff --git a/test/LinkProberTest.h b/test/LinkProberTest.h
index 137b4343..9c5ef03c 100644
--- a/test/LinkProberTest.h
+++ b/test/LinkProberTest.h
@@ -42,6 +42,8 @@ class LinkProberTest: public ::testing::Test
     void initializeSendBuffer() {mLinkProber.initializeSendBuffer();};
     void handleUpdateEthernetFrame() {mLinkProber.handleUpdateEthernetFrame();};
     void handleUpdateSequenceNumber() {mLinkProber.updateIcmpSequenceNo();};
+    void handleSuspendTxProbes() {mLinkProber.suspendTxProbes(300);};
+    void handleSendHeartbeat() {mLinkProber.sendHeartbeat();};
     void resetTxBufferTlv() {mLinkProber.resetTxBufferTlv();};
     size_t getTxPacketSize() {return mLinkProber.mTxPacketSize;};
     size_t appendTlvCommand(link_prober::Command commandType);
@@ -54,6 +56,7 @@ class LinkProberTest: public ::testing::Test
 
     uint16_t getRxSelfSeqNo() {return mLinkProber.mRxSelfSeqNo;};
     uint16_t getRxPeerSeqNo() {return mLinkProber.mRxPeerSeqNo;};
+    bool getSuspendTx() {return mLinkProber.mSuspendTx;};
 
     boost::asio::io_service mIoService;
     common::MuxConfig mMuxConfig;