diff --git a/openslides/config/models.py b/openslides/config/models.py
index bd2d046d1..4790b9e43 100644
--- a/openslides/config/models.py
+++ b/openslides/config/models.py
@@ -58,6 +58,8 @@ class Config(object):
 
         for receiver, value in default_config_value.send(sender='config', key=key):
             if value is not None:
+#                if settings.DEBUG:
+#                    print 'Using default for %s' % key
                 return value
         if settings.DEBUG:
             print "No default value for: %s" % key
diff --git a/openslides/projector/models.py b/openslides/projector/models.py
index 3836c60c0..8b11e0493 100644
--- a/openslides/projector/models.py
+++ b/openslides/projector/models.py
@@ -54,7 +54,9 @@ def default_config(sender, key, **kwargs):
     return {
         'projector_message': '',
         'countdown_time': 60,
-        'countdown_start': False,
+        'countdown_start_stamp': 0,
+        'countdown_pause_stamp': 0,
+        'countdown_state': 'inactive',
         'bigger': 100,
         'up': 0,
     }.get(key)
diff --git a/openslides/projector/projector.py b/openslides/projector/projector.py
index 62de5a58f..d943803af 100644
--- a/openslides/projector/projector.py
+++ b/openslides/projector/projector.py
@@ -86,10 +86,19 @@ def countdown(sender, **kwargs):
     if kwargs['register']:
         return name
     if name in kwargs['call']:
-        if config['countdown_start'] is False:
-             config['countdown_start'] = time()
-        seconds = max(0, int(config['countdown_start'] + config['countdown_time'] - time()))
-        return (name, seconds)
+        if config['countdown_state'] == 'active':
+            seconds = max(0, int(config['countdown_start_stamp'] + config['countdown_time'] - time()))
+        elif config['countdown_state'] == 'paused':
+            seconds = max(0, int(config['countdown_start_stamp'] + config['countdown_time'] - config['countdown_pause_stamp']))
+        elif config['countdown_state'] == 'inactive':
+            seconds = max(0, int(config['countdown_time']))
+        else:
+            seconds = 0
+
+        if seconds == 0:
+            config['countdown_state'] = 'expired'
+
+        return (name, '%02d:%02d' % (seconds / 60, seconds % 60))
     return None
 
 
diff --git a/openslides/projector/views.py b/openslides/projector/views.py
index 1aa67cad3..dc81bc2f8 100644
--- a/openslides/projector/views.py
+++ b/openslides/projector/views.py
@@ -191,12 +191,33 @@ def projector_edit(request, direction):
 @permission_required('projector.can_manage_projector')
 def projector_countdown(request, command):
     #todo: why is there the time argument?
-    if command == 'reset':
-        config['countdown_start'] = time()
+    if command in ['reset','start','stop']:
+        config['countdown_time'] = config['agenda_countdown_time']
+
+    if command =='reset':
+        if command == 'reset':
+            config['countdown_start_stamp'] = time()
+            config['countdown_pause_stamp'] = 0
+            config['countdown_state'] = 'inactive'
+
     elif command == 'start':
-        config['countdown_run'] = True
+            # if we had stopped the countdown resume were we left of
+            if config['countdown_state'] == 'paused':
+                s = config['countdown_start_stamp']
+                p = config['countdown_pause_stamp']
+                n = time()
+
+                config['countdown_start_stamp'] = n - (p - s)
+            else:
+                config['countdown_start_stamp'] = time()
+
+            config['countdown_state'] = 'active'
+            config['countdown_pause_stamp'] = 0
+
     elif command == 'stop':
-        config['countdown_run'] = False
+        if config['countdown_state'] == 'active':
+            config['countdown_pause_stamp'] = time()
+            config['countdown_state'] = 'paused'
 
     if request.is_ajax():
         if command == "show":