diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 99b68b8..694e79f 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -3669,15 +3669,18 @@ static int64_t
 irc_get_reconnect_delay (struct server *s)
 {
 	int64_t delay = get_config_integer (s->config, "reconnect_delay");
-
 	int64_t delay_factor = get_config_integer (s->ctx->config.root,
 		"behaviour.reconnect_delay_growing");
 	for (unsigned i = 0; i < s->reconnect_attempt; i++)
+	{
+		if (delay_factor && delay > INT64_MAX / delay_factor)
+			break;
 		delay *= delay_factor;
+	}
 
 	int64_t delay_max = get_config_integer (s->ctx->config.root,
 		"behaviour.reconnect_delay_max");
-	return (delay > delay_max || delay < 0) ? delay_max : delay;
+	return MIN (delay, delay_max);
 }
 
 static void