diff --git a/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/robot/robot_defense.dm b/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/robot/robot_defense.dm
index e7e05fd6d8..5342638c03 100644
--- a/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/robot/robot_defense.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mob/living/silicon/robot/robot_defense.dm
@@ -87,7 +87,11 @@ GLOBAL_LIST_INIT(blacklisted_borg_hats, typecacheof(list( //Hats that don't real
 	vtec_disable(10 SECONDS)
 
 /mob/living/silicon/robot/proc/vtec_disable(time)
-	apply_status_effect(/datum/status_effect/vtec_disabled, time)
+	var/datum/status_effect/vtec_disabled/V = has_status_effect(/datum/status_effect/vtec_disabled)
+	if(V)
+		V.duration = max(V.duration, world.time + time)
+	else
+		apply_status_effect(/datum/status_effect/vtec_disabled, time)
 	update_movespeed()
 
 /mob/living/silicon/robot/fire_act()