diff --git a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
index fc727b8c6..9c972f5dd 100644
--- a/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
+++ b/source/duke3d/src/game.cpp
@@ -4082,7 +4082,7 @@ PALONLY:
             if (actor[i].picnum == BLIMP && t->picnum == SCRAP1 && pSprite->yvel >= 0)
                 t->picnum = pSprite->yvel < MAXUSERTILES ? pSprite->yvel : 0;
             else t->picnum += T1(i);
-            t->shade = max(t->shade-6, -128);
+            t->shade = -128+6 < t->shade ? t->shade-6 : -128; // effectively max(t->shade-6, -128) while avoiding (signed!) underflow
 
             G_MaybeTakeOnFloorPal(t, sect);
             break;