diff --git a/src/st_sbardef.h b/src/st_sbardef.h
index 4c502140..1596d132 100644
--- a/src/st_sbardef.h
+++ b/src/st_sbardef.h
@@ -198,8 +198,8 @@ typedef struct sbe_widget_s
 
     int height;
 
-    // message
     int duration;
+    int duration_left;
 } sbe_widget_t;
 
 struct sbarelem_s
diff --git a/src/st_stuff.c b/src/st_stuff.c
index 8ef5232e..69c6e53d 100644
--- a/src/st_stuff.c
+++ b/src/st_stuff.c
@@ -1080,6 +1080,10 @@ static void ResetElem(sbarelem_t *elem)
             elem->subtype.number->oldvalue = -1;
             break;
 
+        case sbe_widget:
+            elem->subtype.widget->duration_left = 0;
+            break;
+
         default:
             break;
     }
diff --git a/src/st_widgets.c b/src/st_widgets.c
index 9704f767..e39887de 100644
--- a/src/st_widgets.c
+++ b/src/st_widgets.c
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ static void UpdateMessage(sbe_widget_t *widget, player_t *player)
     ST_ClearLines(widget);
 
     static char string[120];
-    static int duration_left;
     static boolean overwrite = true;
     static boolean messages_enabled = true;
 
@@ -100,21 +99,21 @@ static void UpdateMessage(sbe_widget_t *widget, player_t *player)
     {
         if (message_string[0])
         {
-            duration_left = widget->duration;
+            widget->duration_left = widget->duration;
             M_StringCopy(string, message_string, sizeof(string));
             message_string[0] = '\0';
             overwrite = false;
         }
         else if (player->message && player->message[0] && overwrite)
         {
-            duration_left = widget->duration;
+            widget->duration_left = widget->duration;
             M_StringCopy(string, player->message, sizeof(string));
             player->message[0] = '\0';
         }
         else if (message_review)
         {
             message_review = false;
-            duration_left = widget->duration;
+            widget->duration_left = widget->duration;
         }
     }
 
@@ -123,14 +122,14 @@ static void UpdateMessage(sbe_widget_t *widget, player_t *player)
         messages_enabled = show_messages;
     }
 
-    if (duration_left == 0)
+    if (widget->duration_left == 0)
     {
         overwrite = true;
     }
     else
     {
         ST_AddLine(widget, string);
-        --duration_left;
+        --widget->duration_left;
     }
 }
 
@@ -144,19 +143,18 @@ static void UpdateSecretMessage(sbe_widget_t *widget, player_t *player)
     }
 
     static char string[80];
-    static int duration_left;
 
     if (player->secretmessage)
     {
-        duration_left = widget->duration;
+        widget->duration_left = widget->duration;
         M_StringCopy(string, player->secretmessage, sizeof(string));
         player->secretmessage = NULL;
     }
 
-    if (duration_left > 0)
+    if (widget->duration_left > 0)
     {
         ST_AddLine(widget, string);
-        --duration_left;
+        --widget->duration_left;
     }
 }