diff --git a/src/hu_stuff.c b/src/hu_stuff.c
index 69bc6910f71de8b069e7da8589ac1b5e02e2786f..518f28b50e930e12d7a47a43d11c2895a81227d3 100644
--- a/src/hu_stuff.c
+++ b/src/hu_stuff.c
@@ -905,7 +905,7 @@ void HU_Ticker(void)
 		}
 	}
 
-	--cechotimer;
+	if (cechotimer > 0) --cechotimer;
 
 	if (hu_redownloadinggamestate)
 		resynch_ticker++;