diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.h b/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.h
index 4040d90f2..246ce62cd 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.h
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/menus.h
@@ -451,7 +451,8 @@ extern int32_t m_mouselastactivity;
 #else
 extern int32_t m_mousewake_watchpoint, m_menuchange_watchpoint;
 // alpha increments of 3 --> 255 / 3 = 85 --> round up to power of 2 --> 128 --> divide by 2 --> 64 alphatabs required
-# define MOUSEALPHA ((getrendermode() == REND_CLASSIC && numalphatabs < 64) ? 0 : clamp((totalclock - m_mouselastactivity - 90)*3, 0, 255))
+// use 16 anyway :P
+# define MOUSEALPHA ((getrendermode() == REND_CLASSIC && numalphatabs < 15) ? 0 : clamp((totalclock - m_mouselastactivity - 90)*3, 0, 255))
 # define MOUSEACTIVECONDITION (totalclock - m_mouselastactivity < M_MOUSETIMEOUT)
 # define MOUSEACTIVECONDITIONAL(condition) (MOUSEACTIVECONDITION && (condition))
 # define MOUSEINACTIVECONDITIONAL(condition) (!MOUSEACTIVECONDITION && (condition))
diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/screentext.c b/polymer/eduke32/source/screentext.c
index e5d0f977d..25ad905e8 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/screentext.c
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/screentext.c
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ int32_t hud_glowingquotes = 1;
 
 // alpha increments of 8 --> 256 / 8 = 32 --> round up to power of 2 --> 32 --> divide by 2 --> 16 alphatabs required
 #define ftapulseshade                                                                                                  \
-    ((hud_glowingquotes && ((getrendermode() == REND_CLASSIC && numalphatabs < 16) || ps->fta >= FTAOPAQUETIME)) ?     \
+    ((hud_glowingquotes && ((getrendermode() == REND_CLASSIC && numalphatabs < 15) || ps->fta >= FTAOPAQUETIME)) ?     \
      (sintable[((uint32_t)ps->fta << 7) & 2047] >> 11) :                                                               \
      (sintable[((uint32_t)FTAOPAQUETIME << 7) & 2047] >> 11))
 
@@ -1033,7 +1033,7 @@ static inline int32_t texto(int32_t t)
 
 static inline int32_t texta(int32_t t)
 {
-    if (getrendermode() == REND_CLASSIC && numalphatabs < 16)
+    if (getrendermode() == REND_CLASSIC && numalphatabs < 15)
     {
         if (t > 4) return 0;
         if (t > 2) return 85;