diff --git a/src/search.cpp b/src/search.cpp
index 11dcdb34..3c638ca0 100644
--- a/src/search.cpp
+++ b/src/search.cpp
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ void MainThread::search() {
   // the UCI protocol states that we shouldn't print the best move before the
   // GUI sends a "stop" or "ponderhit" command. We therefore simply wait here
   // until the GUI sends one of those commands (which also raises Threads.stop).
-  if (!Threads.stop && (Limits.ponder || Limits.infinite))
+  if (!Threads.stop && (Threads.ponder || Limits.infinite))
   {
       Threads.stopOnPonderhit = true;
       wait(Threads.stop);
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ void Thread::search() {
               {
                   // If we are allowed to ponder do not stop the search now but
                   // keep pondering until the GUI sends "ponderhit" or "stop".
-                  if (Limits.ponder)
+                  if (Threads.ponder)
                       Threads.stopOnPonderhit = true;
                   else
                       Threads.stop = true;
@@ -1489,7 +1489,7 @@ moves_loop: // When in check search starts from here
     }
 
     // An engine may not stop pondering until told so by the GUI
-    if (Limits.ponder)
+    if (Threads.ponder)
         return;
 
     if (   (Limits.use_time_management() && elapsed > Time.maximum() - 10)
diff --git a/src/search.h b/src/search.h
index 477570e3..bbdbdfd9 100644
--- a/src/search.h
+++ b/src/search.h
@@ -72,14 +72,13 @@ typedef std::vector<RootMove> RootMoves;
 
 
 /// LimitsType struct stores information sent by GUI about available time to
-/// search the current move, maximum depth/time, if we are in analysis mode or
-/// if we have to ponder while it's our opponent's turn to move.
+/// search the current move, maximum depth/time, or if we are in analysis mode.
 
 struct LimitsType {
 
   LimitsType() { // Init explicitly due to broken value-initialization of non POD in MSVC
     nodes = time[WHITE] = time[BLACK] = inc[WHITE] = inc[BLACK] =
-    npmsec = movestogo = depth = movetime = mate = infinite = ponder = 0;
+    npmsec = movestogo = depth = movetime = mate = infinite = 0;
   }
 
   bool use_time_management() const {
@@ -87,7 +86,7 @@ struct LimitsType {
   }
 
   std::vector<Move> searchmoves;
-  int time[COLOR_NB], inc[COLOR_NB], npmsec, movestogo, depth, movetime, mate, infinite, ponder;
+  int time[COLOR_NB], inc[COLOR_NB], npmsec, movestogo, depth, movetime, mate, infinite;
   int64_t nodes;
   TimePoint startTime;
 };
diff --git a/src/thread.cpp b/src/thread.cpp
index 86fce6aa..6d3364d5 100644
--- a/src/thread.cpp
+++ b/src/thread.cpp
@@ -183,11 +183,12 @@ uint64_t ThreadPool::tb_hits() const {
 /// and starts a new search, then returns immediately.
 
 void ThreadPool::start_thinking(Position& pos, StateListPtr& states,
-                                const Search::LimitsType& limits) {
+                                const Search::LimitsType& limits, bool ponderMode) {
 
   main()->wait_for_search_finished();
 
   stopOnPonderhit = stop = false;
+  ponder = ponderMode;
   Search::Limits = limits;
   Search::RootMoves rootMoves;
 
diff --git a/src/thread.h b/src/thread.h
index c1b635b7..ee43bfb5 100644
--- a/src/thread.h
+++ b/src/thread.h
@@ -96,12 +96,12 @@ struct ThreadPool : public std::vector<Thread*> {
   void exit(); // be initialized and valid during the whole thread lifetime.
 
   MainThread* main() { return static_cast<MainThread*>(at(0)); }
-  void start_thinking(Position&, StateListPtr&, const Search::LimitsType&);
+  void start_thinking(Position&, StateListPtr&, const Search::LimitsType&, bool = false);
   void read_uci_options();
   uint64_t nodes_searched() const;
   uint64_t tb_hits() const;
 
-  std::atomic_bool stop, stopOnPonderhit;
+  std::atomic_bool stop, ponder, stopOnPonderhit;
 
 private:
   StateListPtr setupStates;
diff --git a/src/uci.cpp b/src/uci.cpp
index 8f6416bd..58b38779 100644
--- a/src/uci.cpp
+++ b/src/uci.cpp
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@ namespace {
 
     Search::LimitsType limits;
     string token;
+    bool ponderMode = false;
 
     limits.startTime = now(); // As early as possible!
 
@@ -133,9 +134,9 @@ namespace {
         else if (token == "movetime")  is >> limits.movetime;
         else if (token == "mate")      is >> limits.mate;
         else if (token == "infinite")  limits.infinite = 1;
-        else if (token == "ponder")    limits.ponder = 1;
+        else if (token == "ponder")    ponderMode = true;
 
-    Threads.start_thinking(pos, States, limits);
+    Threads.start_thinking(pos, States, limits, ponderMode);
   }
 
 } // namespace
@@ -167,11 +168,11 @@ void UCI::loop(int argc, char* argv[]) {
       token.clear(); // getline() could return empty or blank line
       is >> skipws >> token;
 
-      // The GUI sends 'ponderhit' to tell us to ponder on the same move the
-      // opponent has played. In case Threads.stopOnPonderhit is set we are
-      // waiting for 'ponderhit' to stop the search (for instance because we
-      // already ran out of time), otherwise we should continue searching but
-      // switching from pondering to normal search.
+      // The GUI sends 'ponderhit' to tell us the user has played the expected move.
+      // So 'ponderhit' will be sent if we were told to ponder on the same move the
+      // user has played. We should continue searching but switch from pondering to
+      // normal search. In case Threads.stopOnPonderhit is set we are waiting for
+      // 'ponderhit' to stop the search, for instance if max search depth is reached.
       if (    token == "quit"
           ||  token == "stop"
           || (token == "ponderhit" && Threads.stopOnPonderhit))
@@ -180,7 +181,7 @@ void UCI::loop(int argc, char* argv[]) {
           Threads.main()->start_searching(true); // Could be sleeping
       }
       else if (token == "ponderhit")
-          Search::Limits.ponder = 0; // Switch to normal search
+          Threads.ponder = false; // Switch to normal search
 
       else if (token == "uci")
           sync_cout << "id name " << engine_info(true)