diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index b57fda4924..4c24f41852 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -1554,11 +1554,10 @@ static int update_background_schedule(int run_maintenance)
 	while (!strbuf_getline_lf(&line, cron_list)) {
 		if (!in_old_region && !strcmp(line.buf, BEGIN_LINE))
 			in_old_region = 1;
-		if (in_old_region)
-			continue;
-		fprintf(cron_in, "%s\n", line.buf);
-		if (in_old_region && !strcmp(line.buf, END_LINE))
+		else if (in_old_region && !strcmp(line.buf, END_LINE))
 			in_old_region = 0;
+		else if (!in_old_region)
+			fprintf(cron_in, "%s\n", line.buf);
 	}
 
 	if (run_maintenance) {
diff --git a/t/t7900-maintenance.sh b/t/t7900-maintenance.sh
index d1e0c8f830..4bbfce31e9 100755
--- a/t/t7900-maintenance.sh
+++ b/t/t7900-maintenance.sh
@@ -446,6 +446,13 @@ test_expect_success 'start preserves existing schedule' '
 	grep "Important information!" cron.txt
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'stop preserves surrounding schedule' '
+	echo "Crucial information!" >>cron.txt &&
+	GIT_TEST_CRONTAB="test-tool crontab cron.txt" git maintenance stop &&
+	grep "Important information!" cron.txt &&
+	grep "Crucial information!" cron.txt
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'register preserves existing strategy' '
 	git config maintenance.strategy none &&
 	git maintenance register &&