diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index dc439ed0..24f54c32 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -1495,7 +1495,7 @@ moves_loop: // When in check, search starts here
         if (bestValue > alpha)
             alpha = bestValue;
 
-        futilityBase = bestValue + 200;
+        futilityBase = std::min(ss->staticEval, bestValue) + 200;
     }
 
     const PieceToHistory* contHist[] = { (ss-1)->continuationHistory, (ss-2)->continuationHistory,