diff --git a/code/controllers/subsystem/timer.dm b/code/controllers/subsystem/timer.dm
index c09be76ff56..1062521f76c 100644
--- a/code/controllers/subsystem/timer.dm
+++ b/code/controllers/subsystem/timer.dm
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@ SUBSYSTEM_DEF(timer)
 	if(buckethead == src)
 		bucket_list[bucket_pos] = next
 		timer_subsystem.bucket_count--
-	else if(timeToRun < TIMER_MAX(timer_subsystem))
+	else if(bucket_joined)
 		timer_subsystem.bucket_count--
 	else
 		var/l = length(second_queue)