diff --git a/src/player/Player.php b/src/player/Player.php
index 7b896ab3a..0415109c2 100644
--- a/src/player/Player.php
+++ b/src/player/Player.php
@@ -1377,6 +1377,11 @@ class Player extends Human implements CommandSender, ChunkListener, IPlayer{
 	public function chat(string $message) : bool{
 		$this->removeCurrentWindow();
 
+		if($this->messageCounter <= 0){
+			//the check below would take care of this (0 * (maxlen + 1) = 0), but it's better be explicit
+			return false;
+		}
+
 		//Fast length check, to make sure we don't get hung trying to explode MBs of string ...
 		$maxTotalLength = $this->messageCounter * (self::MAX_CHAT_BYTE_LENGTH + 1);
 		if(strlen($message) > $maxTotalLength){