diff --git a/similar/main/gameseq.cpp b/similar/main/gameseq.cpp
index c6500ca66..e9e75d463 100644
--- a/similar/main/gameseq.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/gameseq.cpp
@@ -1462,9 +1462,10 @@ static window_event_result AdvanceLevel(int secret_flag)
 
 window_event_result DoPlayerDead()
 {
+	const bool pause = !(((Game_mode & GM_MULTI) && (Newdemo_state != ND_STATE_PLAYBACK)) && (!Endlevel_sequence));
 	auto result = window_event_result::handled;
 
-	if (!(((Game_mode & GM_MULTI) && (Newdemo_state != ND_STATE_PLAYBACK)) && (!Endlevel_sequence)))
+	if (pause)
 		stop_time();
 
 	reset_palette_add();
@@ -1483,6 +1484,8 @@ window_event_result DoPlayerDead()
 		if (get_local_player().lives == 0)
 		{
 			DoGameOver();
+			if (pause)
+				start_time();
 			return window_event_result::close;
 		}
 	}
@@ -1557,7 +1560,7 @@ window_event_result DoPlayerDead()
 
 	digi_sync_sounds();
 
-	if (!(((Game_mode & GM_MULTI) && (Newdemo_state != ND_STATE_PLAYBACK)) && (!Endlevel_sequence)))
+	if (pause)
 		start_time();
 	reset_time();