diff --git a/panda/src/express/clockObject.I b/panda/src/express/clockObject.I
index 63c6056c37..140b923e24 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/clockObject.I
+++ b/panda/src/express/clockObject.I
@@ -156,6 +156,9 @@ get_net_frame_rate() const {
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 INLINE double ClockObject::
 get_dt() const {
+  if (_max_dt > 0.0) {
+    return min(_max_dt, _dt);
+  }
   return _dt;
 }
 
diff --git a/panda/src/express/clockObject.cxx b/panda/src/express/clockObject.cxx
index 38ff3bef06..1fc669e4fd 100644
--- a/panda/src/express/clockObject.cxx
+++ b/panda/src/express/clockObject.cxx
@@ -139,9 +139,6 @@ tick() {
   case M_normal:
     // Time runs as it will; we simply report time elapsing.
     _dt = _actual_frame_time - old_time;
-    if (_max_dt > 0.0) {
-      _dt = min(_max_dt, _dt);
-    }
     _reported_frame_time = _actual_frame_time;
     break;
 
@@ -176,9 +173,6 @@ tick() {
       _reported_frame_time = _actual_frame_time;
     }
 
-    if (_max_dt > 0.0) {
-      _dt = min(_max_dt, _dt);
-    }
     break;
 
   }