diff --git a/axes/handlers/proxy.py b/axes/handlers/proxy.py
index 8eefd25..670fad1 100644
--- a/axes/handlers/proxy.py
+++ b/axes/handlers/proxy.py
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ class AxesProxyHandler(AbstractAxesHandler, AxesBaseHandler):
             request.axes_user_agent = get_client_user_agent(request)
             request.axes_path_info = get_client_path_info(request)
             request.axes_http_accept = get_client_http_accept(request)
-            request.axes_failures_since_start = 0
+            request.axes_failures_since_start = None
             request.axes_updated = True
 
     @classmethod
diff --git a/tests/base.py b/tests/base.py
index 29b9d59..52f32b5 100644
--- a/tests/base.py
+++ b/tests/base.py
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ class AxesTestCase(TestCase):
         self.request.axes_user_agent = get_client_user_agent(self.request)
         self.request.axes_path_info = get_client_path_info(self.request)
         self.request.axes_http_accept = get_client_http_accept(self.request)
-        self.request.axes_failures_since_start = 0
+        self.request.axes_failures_since_start = None
 
         self.credentials = get_credentials(self.username)