diff --git a/code/modules/events/disease_outbreak.dm b/code/modules/events/disease_outbreak.dm
index 8f5c0e50b5..d83c966ff6 100644
--- a/code/modules/events/disease_outbreak.dm
+++ b/code/modules/events/disease_outbreak.dm
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 /datum/round_event/disease_outbreak/start()
 	var/advanced_virus = FALSE
-	max_severity = 3 + max(FLOOR((world.time - control.earliest_start)/6000),0) //3 symptoms at 20 minutes, plus 1 per 10 minutes
+	max_severity = 3 + max(FLOOR((world.time - control.earliest_start)/6000, 1),0) //3 symptoms at 20 minutes, plus 1 per 10 minutes
 	if(prob(20 + (10 * max_severity)))
 		advanced_virus = TRUE