diff --git a/stepmania/src/ScreenPlayerOptions.cpp b/stepmania/src/ScreenPlayerOptions.cpp
index c0e55085b8..ecf0645794 100644
--- a/stepmania/src/ScreenPlayerOptions.cpp
+++ b/stepmania/src/ScreenPlayerOptions.cpp
@@ -131,14 +131,14 @@ void ScreenPlayerOptions::HandleScreenMessage( const ScreenMessage SM )
 	{
 		m_bAcceptedChoices = true;
 
-		float fShowSeconds = m_Out.GetLengthSeconds();
+		float fShowSeconds = max( m_Out.GetLengthSeconds()-0.3f, 0 );
 
 		// show "hold START for options"
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.SetDiffuse( RageColor(1,1,1,0) );
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.BeginTweening( 0.15f );     // fade in
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.SetZoomY( 1 );
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.SetDiffuse( RageColor(1,1,1,1) );
-		m_sprOptionsMessage.BeginTweening( fShowSeconds-0.3f ); // sleep
+		m_sprOptionsMessage.BeginTweening( fShowSeconds ); // sleep
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.BeginTweening( 0.15f );     // fade out
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.SetDiffuse( RageColor(1,1,1,0) );
 		m_sprOptionsMessage.SetZoomY( 0 );