diff --git a/src/k_kart.c b/src/k_kart.c
index 97a6bef56..b96a04bd2 100644
--- a/src/k_kart.c
+++ b/src/k_kart.c
@@ -10176,7 +10176,7 @@ static fixed_t K_GetUnderwaterStrafeMul(const player_t *player)
 
 	baseline = 2 * K_GetKartSpeed(player, true, true) / 3;
 
-	return max(0, FixedDiv(player->speed - minSpeed, baseline - minSpeed));
+	return max(0, FixedDiv(max(player->speed, minSpeed) - minSpeed, baseline - minSpeed));
 }
 
 INT16 K_GetKartTurnValue(const player_t *player, INT16 turnvalue)