diff --git a/libraries/particles/src/Particle.cpp b/libraries/particles/src/Particle.cpp
index 5ab9f1c470..0c677c4058 100644
--- a/libraries/particles/src/Particle.cpp
+++ b/libraries/particles/src/Particle.cpp
@@ -483,8 +483,8 @@ void Particle::update(const uint64_t& now) {
     float velocityScalar = glm::length(getVelocity());
     const float STILL_MOVING = 0.05f / (float)(TREE_SCALE);
     bool isStillMoving = (velocityScalar > STILL_MOVING);
-    const float REALLY_OLD = 30.0f; // 30 seconds
-    bool isReallyOld = ((float)(now - _created) > REALLY_OLD);
+    const uint64_t REALLY_OLD = 30 * USECS_PER_SECOND; // 30 seconds
+    bool isReallyOld = ((now - _created) > REALLY_OLD);
     bool isInHand = getInHand();
     bool shouldDie = getShouldDie() || (!isInHand && !isStillMoving && isReallyOld);
     setShouldDie(shouldDie);