diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index ff7b996b..0a4b1a18 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,8 @@ namespace {
   }
 
   constexpr int futility_move_count(bool improving, Depth depth) {
-    return (3 + depth * depth) / (2 - improving);
+    return improving ? (3 + depth * depth)
+                     : (3 + depth * depth) / 2;
   }
 
   // History and stats update bonus, based on depth