diff --git a/src/timeman.cpp b/src/timeman.cpp
index 9f131d46..702f0f31 100644
--- a/src/timeman.cpp
+++ b/src/timeman.cpp
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ void TimeManager::init(const Search::LimitsType& limits, int currentPly, Color u
 
   // Initialize all to maximum values but unstablePVExtraTime that is reset
   unstablePVExtraTime = 0;
-  optimumSearchTime = maximumSearchTime = limits.time[us];
+  optimumSearchTime = maximumSearchTime = std::max(limits.time[us], minThinkingTime);
 
   // We calculate optimum time usage for different hypothetical "moves to go"-values and choose the
   // minimum of calculated search time values. Usually the greatest hypMTG gives the minimum values.