diff --git a/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp b/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp
index faa5392b7..42b286f53 100644
--- a/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp
+++ b/src/g_shared/a_artifacts.cpp
@@ -1500,7 +1500,9 @@ void APowerTimeFreezer::InitEffect()
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		EffectTics++;
+		// Compensate for skipped tic, but beware of overflow.
+		if(EffectTics < INT_MAX)
+			EffectTics++;
 	}
 }